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DOARD  of 


Please 

handle  this  volume 

with  care. 

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hbl- stx  HC     108.H4A3 

,„,  Hartford,  Conn.,  as  a  manufacturin 


3    ^153    DD5bb33b 


J-lartford,  ^099. 


AS    A 


j\\2[)uf3(^ur\r)^,  Business 

2T)d  Qommerxjal  Center 


WITH 


Brief  Sl^etetyes  of  Its  jHistory,  /attractions,  leadir;^ 
Industries,  apd  Institutions 


llustrated 


published  by  Jr;e Jiartford. Board  of  Trad? 
^1889 


Iptroduetory. 


FT  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trade  held  October  i,  1888,  it  was 
voted  that  the  secretary  be  directed  to  prepare  a  pamphlet  setting 
forth  the  advantages  of  Hartford  as  a  manufacturing  center  and 
place  of  residence,  and  giving  other  facts  of  general  interest.  While  the 
scope  of  the  work  is  limited,  great  pains  have  been  taken  to  secure 
accuracy  of  statement.  The  Board  is  indebted  to  Edward  L.  Osgood,  of 
Boston,  for  the  use  of  several  fine  cuts,  engraved  for  the  Memorial 
History  of  Hartford  County,  a  book  of  unusual  merit,  the  value  of  which 
has  not  been  properly  recognized.  A  number  of  the  illustrations  were 
made  expressly  for  this  volume  and  appear  now  for  the  first  time. 
Obligations  to  Geer's  Directory  are  stated  elsewhere.  The  articles  on 
Schools,  Trinity  College,  the  Asylum,  the  Retreat,  and  the  Theological 
Seminary,  were  written  by  persons  having  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
subjects.     To  those  who  have  aided  by  furnishing  facts,  or  otherwise,. 

the  thanks  of  the  Board  are  tendered. 

P.    H.    WOODWARD, 

Secretary. 
Hartford,  Conn.,  April  9,   1889. 


The.  Case,  Lochwood  &  Brainard  Co.,  Printers,  Hartford,  Conn. 


Jtye  Board  of  Jrade 


THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN., 


ROOMS  39   PEARL   STREET. 


OFFICERS. 


J.  M.  ALLEN,  President. 


P.  H.  WOODWARD,  Secretary. 


M.   H.  WHAPLES,  Treasurer. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS. 


C.  C.  Kimball, 


Pliny  Jewell. 


DIRECTORS. 


J.  M.  Allen, 
C.  C.  Kimball, 
Frank  S.  Brown, 
Geo.  A.  Fairfield, 
Judson  H.  Root, 
Wm.  H.  Post, 
Wm.  H.  Goodrich, 
John  C.  Mead, 
John  F.  Morris, 
James  L.  Howard, 
Chas.  E.  Billings, 
I.  B.  Davis, 


Geo.  P.  Bissell, 
H.  C.  Dwight, 
Morgan  G.  Bulkeley, 
John  H.  Hall, 
F.  A.  Pratt, 
Chas.  M.  Beach, 
A.  E.  Burr, 
Geo.  H.  Day, 
James  J.  Goodwin, 
Chas.  E.  Gross, 
Asa  S.  Cook, 
A.  B.  Gillett, 


M.  H.  Whaples. 


STANDING    COMMITTEES. 


S.  M.  Bronson, 
N.  B.  Allyn, 
Henry  A.  Botsford, 
Franklin  Clark, 
Chas.  H.  Dresser, 
C.  M.  Henney, 
J.  G.  Lane, 
Wm.  T.  Parks, 
F.  F.  Street, 


On    Membership. 

John  W.  Stedman, 

Albert  F.  Brown, 

Fred.  C.  Billings, 

A.  Catlin,  Jr., 

H.  Griswold, 

S.  I.  Freeman, 

J.  J.  Poole, 

F.  M.  Peck, 

J.  W.  Starkweather. 


COMMITTEES. 


On    Reception. 


Geo.  L.  Chase, 
W.  C.  Skinner, 
\V.  X.  Pelton, 
Edgar  F.  Burnham, 
John  M.  Holcombe, 
John  W.  Welch, 
E.  S.  Kibbe, 
J.  Samuels, 
Wm.  H.  Gross, 
R.  N.  Fitzgerald, 
W.  H.  Wiley, 
Chas.  G.  FrisbieJ 


I).  W.  C.  Skilton, 
Geo.  E.  Hatch, 
Robt.  N.  Seyms, 
Edwin  S.  Bartlett, 
Geo.  W.  Beach, 
H.  P.  Hitchcock, 
S.  B.  Boswortk, 
P.  P.  Bennett, 
John  S.  Camp, 
F.  B.  Wilson, 
A.  B.  Gillett, 
Elisha  B.  Squires. 


Charles  B.  Whiting, 
F.  E.  Belden, 


On    Finance. 


Geo.  H.  Day, 
E.  J.  Bassett, 


Ward  W.  Jacobs, 
Sam'l  E.  Elmore, 


Frederick  Plimpton. 


On    House. 


J.  D.  Browne, 
Wm.  H.  Lockwood, 


Francis  C.  Pratt. 


On    Transportation. 

H.  C.  Dwight,  Geo.  A.  Fairfield, 

John  H.  Hall,  O.  H.  Blanchard, 

Clarence  B.  Ingraham. 


On    Public    Affairs. 

Francis  Goodwin,.  Henry  C.  Robinson, 

Leverett  Brainard,  Chas.  E.  Gross, 

Judson  H.  Root,  Frederick  S.  Brown, 

Lemuel  T.  Frisbie. 


/T\emb<?r5. 


Abbot,  John  C. 

Adams,  Sherman   W. 

Ahern,  James 

Allen,  J.  M. 

Allen,  John 

Allyn,  Noyes  B. 

*Allyn,  R.  J. 

Alton,  Charles  D.,  M.D. 

Am  merman,  P.  &  Son. 

Arms,  James  C. 

Ashmead,  Robert  H. 

Backes,  F.  W. 

Baker,  H.  C. 

Ballerstein,  R. 

Barbour,  LuciusIA. 

Barker,  Ludlow  &  Co. 

Barrett  Bros. 

Bassett,  E.  J. 

Batterson,  J.  G. 

Beach,  C.  M. 

Beach,  George^W. 

Beach,  H.  B.  &  Son. 

Belden,  Charles  R. 

Belden,  F.  E. 

Bell,  C.  H. 

Bennett,  M.,  Jr. 

Bennett,  P.  P. 

Besse,  JosErH  L. 

Best,  George 

Bidwell,  M.  A. 

Bill  Bros. 

Billings,  Charles  E. 

Billings,  Fred  C. 

Bissell,  George  P. 

Blake,  T.  J.  &   - 

Blanchard,  O.   H. 

Bliss,  E.  L. 

Bliss,  Francis  E. 

Boardman,  William  &  Sons. 

Bolles,  George  A. 

Bosworth,  N.  A. 

Bosworth,  S.  B. 


Botsford,  Henry  A. 
Brainard,  L. 

Brewer,  C.  S. 
Brewster,  J.   H. 
Brockway,  Ulysses  H. 
Bronson,  S.  M. 
Brooks,  Henry  P. 
Brown,  Albert  F. 
Brown,  Frank  S. 
Brown,  Fred.  S. 
Browne,  J.  D. 
*Buell,  D.  H. 
Bulkeley,  George  L. 
Bulkeley,  M.  G. 
Bulkeley,  William  H. 
Bull,  Lamb  &  Co. 
Bunce,  J.  B. 
Burdett,  Charles  L. 
Burxell,  C.  J. 
Burr,  A.  E. 
Burr  Index  Company. 
Burt,  Charles  R. 
Cadden  Clothing  Company. 
Cady,  Ernest 
Camp,  John  S. 
Capewell,  G.  J. 
Carpenter  &  Bartlett. 
Case,  C.  H. 
Catlin,  A.,  Jr. 
Chamberlin,  S.  D. 
Chapman,  Charles  R. 
Chapman,  M.  S. 
Chapman,  Silas,  Jr. 
Charlton,  A.  H. 
Chase,  Charles  E. 
Chase,  George  L. 
Church,  Abner 
Clark,  Charles  H. 
Clark,  Edred  W.- 
Clark, E.  S. 
Clark,  Ezra 
Clark,  Fayette  C. 


8 


MEMBERS. 


Clark,  Franklin 
Clark,  H.  H. 
Clark,  L.  W. 
Clark,  Theodore 
Clark,  W.  B. 
Clark  &  Smith. 
Collins,  Atwood 
Colt,  Caldwell  H. 
Cone,  J.  H.  &  W.  E. 
Conklin,  H.  W. 
Conrad,  Philip 
Cook,  Asa  S. 
Cook,  C.  W. 
Cook  &  Whittemore. 
Cooley,  Francis  B. 
Corning,  H.  F.  &  Co. 
Cowles,  S.  W. 
Cowles,  Truman 
Crilly,  John  A. 
Crosthwaite,  F.  H. 
Cunningham,  M.  G. 
Curley,  John 
Cutler,  Ralph  W. 
Davis,  I.  B.  &  Son. 
Day,  George  H. 
Dennis,  Rodney 
Dickinson,  Leonard  A. 
Dimock,  J.  W. 
Donaghue  Bros. 
Donaghue,  Patrick 
Dow  Bros. 
Downing,  Emory 
Drake  &  Parsons. 
Dresser,  Charles  H. 
Duffy,  Thomas  F. 
Dunham,  S.  G. 
Dunn,  P.  H. 
Dwight,  Henry  C. 
Edwards,  Fred.  B. 
Ellis,  George 
Ellsworth,  F. 
Elmore,  Samuel  E. 
Emmons,  C.  H. 
Enders,  T.  O. 
Ensworth,  L.  L. 
Fairfield,  George  A. 
Fairfield,  Jno.  M. 
Fenn,  Linus  T. 
Fichtner,  P.  A. 
Fisk,  J.  D. 
Fitzgerald,  R.  N. 
Folts,  George  H. 


Forbes  &  Buckland. 
Foster,  A.  L.  &  Co. 
Foster  &  Co. 
Fowler  &  Hunting. 
Fowler  &  San  Souci. 
Fox  &  Co. 
Fox  &  Whittemore. 
Freeman,  S.  I. 
French  &  Strong. 
Frisbie,  Edward  C. 
Frisbie,  L.  T.  &  Son. 
Fuller,  C.  C. 
Fuller,  G.  W.  &  Son. 
Gallup  &  Metzger. 
Gates,  J.  J. 
Gatling,  R.  J. 
Gay,  George  A. 
Gemmill,  Burnham  &  Co. 
Gillett,  A.  B. 

GOLDSCHMIDT,    H. 

Goodman,  Aaron  C. 
Goodnow,  J. 
Goodrich,  C.  C. 
Goodrich,  E.  S. 
Goodrich,  Stephen 
Goodrich,  Wm.  H. 
Goodwin,  J.  J.  &  F. 
Goodwin,  Lester  H. 
Graves,  Miles  W. 
Gray,  John  W. 
Greene,  Jacob  L, 
Griswold,  Charles  R. 
Griswold,  H. 
Gross,  Charles  E. 
Gross,  Wm.  H. 
Habenstein,  Edward 
Hall,  Jas.  P. 
Hall,  Jno.  H; 
Harbison,  J.  P. 
Hart,  Charles  R. 
Hart,  Edward  G. 
Hartford  Printing  Co. 
Hartford  Silver  Plate  Co. 
Hatch,  George  E. 
Hawley,  R.  D. 
Hayden,  J.  M. 
Haynes,  J.  P. 

HAYNES   &    FORBY. 

Henney,  C.  M. 
Henney,  David 
Henney,  William  F. 
Heublein,  Gilbert  F. 


MEMBERS. 


Heublein,  Louis  F. 
Hicks,  E.  M. 
Higgins,  John  E. 
Hills,  A.  C. 
Hills,  C.  S. 
Hills,  J.  C. 
Hills,  John  R. 
Hills,  Isaac  &  Sons. 
Hills  &  Co. 
Hillyer,  Drayton 
Hinckley,  Howard  N. 
Hitchcock,  H.  P. 
Hoadley,  E.  J. 

HOLBROOK,    C.    M. 

Holbrook,  George  A. 
Holcombe,  John  M. 
Hollander,  Abraham 
Horsfall  &  Rothschild. 
Howard,  A.  E. 
Howard,  James  L. 
Howe,  D.  R. 
Hubbard,  S.  A. 
Hunt,  A.  A. 
Hurd  &  Mellen. 
Hussey,  Samuel  J. 
Hyde,  Alvin  P. 
Hyde,  E.  H.,  Jr. 
Hyde,  Frank  E. 
Hyde,  Salisbury 
Hyde,  Wm.  Waldo 
Ingraham,  C.  B. 
Jacobs,  Avery  &  Jacobs. 
Jacobs,  Ward  W. 
Jaros,  Samuel 
Jewell,  Charles  A. 
Jewell,  L.  B. 
Jewell,  Pliny 
Jillson,  A.  W. 
Jones,  H.  N.  &  Co. 
Jones  &  Little. 
Jones,  O.  H. 
Joslyn,  Charles  M. 
Judd,  H.  C. 
Kashmann,  Isaac 
Keeney,  W.  B. 
Keller,  George 
Kellogg,  Julius  A. 
Kendall,  E.  S. 
Keney  &  Roberts. 
Kenyon,  Rinaldo  P. 
Kibbe,  E.  S. 
Kimball,  C.  C. 


King,  Charles 
King,  Horace  H. 
Kingsley  &  Miller. 
Kingsley  &  Smith. 
Knox,  Frank  J. 
Kohn,  Henry 
Krug,  Powers  &  Co. 
Lane,  J.  G. 
Laragy,  Patrick 
Larned  &  Hatch. 
Lathrop,  W.  H. 
Lawrence,  Charles  H. 
Leschke,  E.  &  Pletcher 
Lincoln,  Brooks  H. 
Lincoln,  Charles  G. 
Lincoln,  Charles  P. 
Lincoln,  Frederick  M. 
Lincoln,  Theodore  M. 
Lockwood,  William  H. 
Longley,  C.  E. 
Lorenz,  William  A. 
Lovell,  Tracy  &  Co. 
Mandlebaum,  J.  &  Sons. 
Marcy  Brothers  &  Co. 
Marks  Brothers. 
Marston,  C.  T.  &  Co. 
Maslen,  Stephen 
Matson,  William  L. 
Mayer,  David 
McManus,  John  C. 
Mead,  John  C. 
Merrill,  L.  D. 
Moore,  James  B. 
Morgan,  H.  K. 
Morrell,  Daniel 
Morris,  J.  F. 
MOseley,  G.  W.  &  Son. 
Mulhall,  James 
Nichols,  James 
Nelson,  R.  W. 
Netter,  G. 
Newton,  Charles  E. 
Newton,  J.  P. 
Newton,  Philo  W. 
Ney,  J.  M. 
Nott,  Samuel 
Nugent,  R.  A.  W. 
Oakey,  F.  D. 
Olds  &  Whipple. 
Otis,  J.  H. 

Palmer,  H.  W.  &  Co. 
Parks  &  Savage. 


IO 


MEMBERS. 


P  IRSONS,  J.   C. 

Peck,  A.  L. 
Peck,  F.  M. 
Pelton,  W.  X. 
Phillips,  E.  B. 
Phillips,  Daniel 
Pitkin,  Brothers  &  Co. 
Plimpton,  Frederick 
Plimpton,  F.  W. 
Plimpton,  L.  B. 
Plimpton,  James  M. 

POMEROY,    A.    H. 

Pomroy,  George  W. 
Poole,  J.  J.  &  Co. 

POST^WILLIAM    H. 

Powell,  J.  B. 
Pratt,  C.  W. 
Pratt,  Francis  A. 
Pratt,  Francis  C. 
Pratt,  Rufus  N. 
Prentice,  Samuel  O. 
Preston,  Miles  B. 
Prouty,  L.  M.  &  Co. 
Pullar,  James 
Quiggle,  Elmer  C. 
Quinn,  P.  H. 
Rapalye,  Charles  A. 
Rathbun,  J.  G. 
Redfield  &  Craig. 
Renshaw,  James  B. 
Ricker,  Alfred  T. 
Ripley  Brothers. 
Roberts,  E.  M. 
Roberts,  Henry 
Robertson,  E.  G. 
Robertson,  William  P. 
Robbins  Brothers. 
Robinson,  Henry  C. 
Rockwell,  Fred  C. 
Rogers,  William  H. 
Rogers,  William,  Mfg.  Co. 
Rood,  D.  A. 
Root,  John  G. 
Root,  Judson  H. 
Royce,  P.  C. 
Russell,  Charles  H. 
Russell,  F.  W. 
Russell,  John  S. 
Russell,  Thomas  W. 
Ryan,  P.  D. 

Salomon  &  De  Lkeuw. 
Samuels,  J. 


Sawtelle,  A.  W.  &  Co. 
Sawyer,  George  O. 
Saunders,  H.  H. 
Schall,  Ernst 
Schroeder,  F. 
Scoville,  A.  W. 
Seidler  &  May. 
Seyms,  R.  N. 
Shannon,  T.  R. 
Shaw,  Thomas  A. 
Shelton,  Edward 
Simonds,  WilliamIJ'Edgar 
Simmons,  W.  G.  &  Co. 
Skilton,  D.  W.  C. 
Skinner,  William  C. 
Slate,  Dwight 
Slate,  D.  N. 
Sloane,  John  &  Co. 
Smith,  Charles  H. 
Smith,  Willis  E. 
Smith,  White  &  Co. 
Smith,  Northam  &  Co. 
Soby,  Charles 
Spear,  D.  A. 
Squires,  Elisha  B. 
Starkweather,  J.  W. 
Steane,  I.  J. 
Stedman,  John  W. 
Steele,  George  W. 
Stillman,  Henry  A. 
Stoddard,  S.  D. 
Stokes,  Fred 
Storrs  &  Candee. 
Stoughton,  D.  G. 
Street,  F.  F. 
Strickland  &  Shea. 
Strong,  D.  E. 
Sturtevant,  F.  C. 
Taintor,  James  U. 
Talcott,  C.  M.' 
Talcott,  W.  H.  &  Brother,  j 
Tallman,  James  H. 
Taylor,  E.  &  Sons. 
Taylor  &  Huntington. 
*Terry,  Stephen 
Thomson,  J.  M. 
Tillinghast,  A.  H. 
Tolles,  E.  &  Co. 
Tracy,  D.  W. 

Tracy,  Tarbox  &  Robinson. 
Topping,  J.  R. 
Tucker's,  E.,  Sons. 


*  Deceased. 


MEMBERS. 


I  I 


Turnbull,  Thomas 
Walker,  Albert  H. 
Wander,  William  &  Son. 
Warren,  F.  M. 
Wasserbach,  J.  C. 
Way  &  Co. 
Webb  &  Shedd. 
Weidlich,  Herman 
Weise,  J.  &  Co. 
Welch,  John  W. 
Welles,  Charles  T. 
Westphal,  William 
Whaples,  M.  H. 
White,  Alonzo 
Whiting,  Charles  B. 
Whitney,  Amos  W. 


Wilcox  &  Maxh  \m. 
Wiley,  Waterman  &  Eaton. 
Wiley,  William  H. 
Willes,  J.  H. 
Willtams,  Eugene  H. 
Williams  &  Carleton. 
Wilson,  Frank  B. 
Woodruff,  O.  D. 
Woodward,  Joseph.G. 
Woodward,  P.  H. 
Woodward,  W.  J. 
Woodward  &  Rogers. 
Woolley,  G.  W.  Son. 
Worthington,  A.  D. 
Zweygartt,  Henry  J. 


Jf?e  Qty  of  ^artford. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENTS. 

PT  the  beginning  of  the  year  1633  the  only  English-speaking  set- 
tlements in  New  England  were  confined  to  Plymouth  and  to 
a  narrow  strip  along  the  central  shores  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 
With  the  exception  of  a  solitary  fort  and  trading-post  established 
near  the  confluence  of  the  Connecticut  and  Little  rivers  by  the  Dutch 
from  New  Amsterdam  the  entire  region  to  the  westward  was  a  wilderness 
occupied  by  savages.  Two  years  earlier  an  Indian  sachem  from  the 
Connecticut  valley  brought  to  Governor  Winthrop  glowing  accounts  of 
the  richness  of  the  country,  and  urged  that  a  colony  be  sent  out  to 
possess  the  land.  Winthrop  received  the  proposal  coolly,  but  Governor 
Win  slow  of  Plymouth  became  sufficiently  interested  to  explore  the 
territory  in  person.  In  the  course  of  the  next  few  months  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  fertility  and  loveliness  of  the  beautiful  valley  became 
diffused  through  the  infant  settlements,  and  began  to  work  upon  the 
imaginations  of  the  people.  Ere  long  the  more  adventurous  were 
discussing  the  expediency  of  exchanging  the  sterile  sands  on  the 
coast  for  the  exuberance  of  the  newly-found  El  Dorado  buried  in  the 
depths  of  the  primeval  forest. 

Political  and  ecclesiastical  differences  were  already  producing  dis- 
sensions in  the  churches.  Newtown  (now  Cambridge),  in  May.  1634, 
petitioned  the  general  court  for  "liberty  to  remove."  Having  secured 
favorable  action  they  applied  the  following  September  for  leave  to 
remove  to  Connecticut.  After  a  heated  debate  the  request  was  denied 
by  the  assistants,  though  favored  by  the  deputies.  The  arguments  used 
on  both  sides  conceal  rather  than  disclose  the  real  motives  underlying 
the  movement.  Meanwhile  individuals,  without  waiting  for  permission 
from    the    authorities,   abandoned    the    towns    in  Massachusetts  Bay  to 

(13) 


14  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

build  new  homes  at  YYethersfield,  Windsor,  and  Hartford.  No  historian 
has  transmitted  a  record  of  the  adventures  and  hardships  of  the 
earliest  explorers. 

The  refusal  of  the  general  court  to  permit  the  disaffected  to 
migrate  only  deepened  the  feeling  of  discontent.  Under  the  charter- 
government  of  Massachusetts  Bay  the  power  of  regulating  the  affairs 
of  the  colony  was  confined  to  a  few  leaders,  the  common  people, 
though  largely  in  the  majority,  having  no  vote  in  the  election  of 
magistrates,  or  voice  in  determining  its  policy.  In  fact,  none  but 
church-members  were  called  "freemen,"  or  permitted,  however  remotely, 
to  touch  the  machinery  of  state. 

Annoyance  and  oppression  invariably  accompany  the  exercise  of 
unlimited  power.  Nurtured  under  an  aristocratic  system,  the  leaders 
looked  down  upon  the  less  favored  as  made  of  inferior  clay,  and  as 
incapable  of  taking  proper  care  of  themselves  without  a  constant  and 
all-pervasive  oversight.  A  sense  of  superiority  furnished  the  license 
and  the  warrant  for  vexatious  interference  in  many  ways  with  purely 
private  and  personal  concerns.  The  tyranny  was  keenly  felt  and 
bitterly  resented.  Having  given  up  the  tender  associations  of  home 
and  braved  the  perils  of  the  Atlantic  to  gain  in  a  distant  wilderness 
the  liberty  denied  in  England,  the  poor  found,  not  freedom  and 
equality,  but  another  despotism  working  under  less  sanguinary  but 
not  less  meddlesome  and  exasperating  forms. 

Fortunately  for  the  colonists  and  fortunately  for  humanity,  Thomas 
Hooker,  a  man  of  rare  gifts  and  force,  appeared  on  the  scene,  in 
1633,  as  the  champion  of  democracy.  In  his  mind  were  taking  shape 
conceptions  of  government  then  novel  and  revolutionary,  but  destined 
to  be  incorporated  in  the  constitutions  of  the  States  severally  and  of 
the  United  States,  and  destined  in  the  future,  no  doubt,  to  universal 
acceptance.  The  people  turned  to  Hooker  and  found  hope  in  his 
views.  Overborne  by  the  local  oligarchy  and  weary  of  strife,  he 
resolved  to  depart  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
Colony,  and  to  find  elsewhere  freedom  for  himself  and  for  his  church. 
With  the  broad  continent  spread  out  before  them  it  is  not  strange  that 
the  little  band  turned  their  eyes  wistfully  to  the  valley  of  the 
Connecticut. 

Six  months  earlier,   in  October,  1635,  a  Part>'  of   sixtv'   mostly  from 


HARTFORD:  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS.  15 

Cambridge,  with  their  cattle  and  other  belongings,  journeyed  across 
the  country  with  the  purpose  of  settling  in  Hartford.  Terrible  ex- 
periences awaited  them.  Before  the  middle  of  November  ice  closed 
the  river,  barring  out  provisions  for  the  winter  which  had  been  for- 
warded by  water.  Threatened  with  starvation  some  made  their  way 
to  Saybrook,  and  thence  by  boat  to  Boston ;  some  retraced  through 
deep  drifts  the  path  by  which  they  came ;  while  a  few  remained, 
subsisting  in  part  on  acorns  gathered  beneath  the  snow. 

In  June,  1636,  Hooker,  with  Stone,  his  assistant,  led  the  Cambridge 
congregation,  numbering  one  hundred,  overland  to  Connecticut.  The 
goods,  tools,  and  farming  utensils  of  the  party  were  carried  in  wagons, 
and  the  cattle  were  driven  on  foot.  For  two  weeks  the  column 
journeyed  through  an  unbroken  wilderness,  surmounting  as  best  they 
could  the  obstacles  by  the  way.  At  length  was  reached  the  fair  spot 
which  had  long  lured  their  thoughts,  and  with  this  accession  of  strength 
the  first  inland  outpost  of  civilization  in  New  England  became  per- 
manently established. 

Honesty  in  dealing  with  the  natives  marked  the  progress  of  an 
enterprise  born  of  high  moral  impulses.  In  behalf  of  the  proprietors, 
Stone  and  William  Goodwin  bought  from  the  Indians  on  satisfac- 
tory terms  an  area  of  thirty  or  forty  square  miles,  the  whites  already 
on  the  ground  being  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  the  purchase. 
The  transaction  did  not  please  the  Pequots,  an  intrusive  column  from 
New  York,  who  claimed  sovereignty  over  the  local  tribes  by  right  of 
conquest,  but  the  sturdy  Puritans  gave  no  heed  to  titles  based  on 
violence  and  robbery.  The  Pequots  lost  little  time  in  making  things 
uncomfortable,  sallying  from  their  fastnesses  east  of  the  Thames  to  ex- 
terminate the  young  settlements  with  torch  and  tomahawk.  But  the 
savage  pastime  was  of  short  duration,  for  the  following  June  a  com- 
pany of  ninety  men,  recruited  at  Hartford.  Windsor,  and  Wethersfield, 
under  command  of  John  Mason,  destroyed  forever  at  a  single 
blow  the  power  of  this  strong  and  cruel  tribe.  Thenceforth  the  peo- 
ple of  Connectic'ut  had  little  trouble  with  local  Indians,  though  they 
contributed  generously  of  men  and  means  to  aid  other  colonies  in  the 
wars  waged  for  a  century  and  a  half  beyond  their  borders. 


1 6  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

CONTRIBUTIONS  OF  HARTFORD  TO  CONSTITUTIONAL 
SELF-GOVERNMENT. 

We  are  approaching  events  seemingly  trivial,  but,  in  reality,  worthy 
to  be  counted  among  the  most  important  that  have  happened  in  the 
history  of  the  race.  During  the  first  year  after  the  migration  from 
Cambridge  the  three  towns  were  governed  by  a  commission  appointed 
by  Massachusetts  Bay.  At  the  expiration  of  the  period  the  little  com- 
munities, in  close  alliance  with  each  other,  set  up  an  independent  gov- 
ernment, with  not  even  an  implied  reference  to  parliament,  king,  or  any 
other  external  earthly  authority.  Deputies  chosen  by  the  towns  met  at 
Hartford,  May  i,  1637,  elected  six  magistrates,  and  prescribed  an  oath 
of  office.  In  the  two  houses  thus  constituted  appears  the  germ  of 
the  American  legislative  system,  composed  of  two  coordinate  but  in- 
dependent branches,  the  concurrence  of  both  being  required  in  the 
enactment  of  laws.  The  Massachusetts  plan  of  allowing  only  church- 
members  to  vote  or  hold  office  was  emphatically  repudiated.  Immi- 
grants wedded  to  sacerdotal  restrictions  moved  on  to  New  Haven, 
where  they  were  amply  accommodated. 

In  January,  1639,  the  three  towns  adopted  "the  first  written  con- 
stitution in  the  history  of  nations."  It  rested  on  the  doctrine  pre- 
viously elaborated  by  Hooker,  that  the  choice  of  public  magistrates 
belongs  to  the  people,  from  their  free  consent  alone  springing  the 
fountain  of  authority,  and  that  they  have  the  further  right  to  define 
and  limit  the  powers  of  their  rulers.  The  ever  memorable  words  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  at  Gettysburg,  "  a  government  of  the  people,  by  the 
people,  for  the  people,"  were  but  an  echo  from  the  pulpit  of  Hart- 
ford's first  pastor,  given  forth  more  than  two  hundred  years  before  at 
the  birth  of  the  commonwealth.  American  democracy  traces  its  origin 
to  Hartford. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  years  later  the  long  and  bitter  struggle  in 
the  convention  of  1787,  to  form  a  Union  of  the  States,  ended  in  a 
compromise  which  adopted  the  essential  features  of  the  Connecticut 
system.  As  here  the  towns  retained  all  powers  except  those  specific- 
ally given  to  the  commonwealth,  so  the  federal  constitution  lodged  in 
the  States  all  powers  not  expressly  delegated  to  the  general  govern- 
ment;  and  as  here  the  units,   whether  large  or  small,   were  guaranteed 


HARTFORD:     ADVANTAGES    OF    LOCATION.  I J 

equal  *  representation  in  one  branch  of  the  legislature,  so  the  federal 
constitution  gave  to  all  States  alike  equal  representation  in  the  senate. 
It  was  this  essential  feature  which  alone  induced  the  small  States  to 
ratify  the  instrument,  and  thus  make  possible  a  united  and  powerful 
nation. 

In  a  little  pamphlet  intended  to  call  attention  to  the  merits  of 
Hartford  as  a  place  of  business  and  residence,  a  sense  of  filial  duty 
almost  compels  her  children  to  begin  by  pointing  to  the  great  part 
she  has  played  in  the  evolution  of  constitutional  self-government.  As 
yet  the  idea  has  barely  started  on  its  fruitful  and  beneficent  mission. 
By  its  own  inherent  rightfulness  and  strength  it  must  in  the  coming 
ages  depose  all  kings,  abolish  hereditary  castes,  uproot  abuses  born 
of  remote  deeds  of  violence,  enthrone  justice  in  the  place  of  prescrip- 
tion, and  establish  universally  the  paramount  right  of  the  people  to 
choose  their  own  rulers  and  make  their  own  laws.  The  transfer  of 
sovereignty  from  a  single  family  to  the  community  at  large  involves 
the  duty  of  educating  present  and  future  generations  to  meet  the 
obligation  with  intelligence,  and  with  fidelity  to  common  interests. 
How  Hartford  is  performing  this  part  of  her  work  will  be  seen  fur- 
ther on. 

ADVANTAGES    OF    LOCATION. 

With  the  continent  to  select  from,  the  first  emigrants  from  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  made  no  mistake  in  turning  their  steps  to  Hartford,  for 
the  adjacent  country  possessed  the  natural  resources  which  rendered 
life  easy  during  the  agricultural  period,  and  which  enabled  their  de- 
scendants to  easily  lead  in  the  mechanical  era,  introduced  early  in 
the  nineteenth  century.  At  this  point  the  valley  is  about  twenty 
miles  broad,  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Bolton  and  on  the  west  by 
the  Talcott  range  of  hills,  both  often  by  courtesy  called  "  mountains." 
From  buildings  high  enough  to  command  an  unobstructed  view,  the 
unaided  eye  on  a  clear  day  descries  the  wavy  outlines  of  Mt.  Tom, 
indenting  the  line  of  the  northern  horizon,  and  further  east  the  irreg- 
ular hills  that  skirt  the  southern  borders  of  Massachusetts.  A  little 
west    of    south    appear    the    rugged    bluffs    overhanging    Meriden,   and 

*  Under  the  State  constitution  of  1S1S  new  towns  to  be  formed  thereafter  were  allowed 
one  representative,  the  old  towns  retaining  two. 


1 8  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

turning  thence  a  few  degrees  eastward  the  valley  fades  from  sight  far 
away  in  a  broad  and  seemingly  unbroken  plain. 

The  towns  north  and  west  of  the  city  are  famed  for  fertility  of 
soil,  having  long  been  known  as  the  garden  of  New  England.  The 
streams  round  about  were  among  the  first  to  be  utilized  for  manufac- 
turing purposes,  so  that  the  valley  is  thickly  dotted  with  prosperous 
and  tributary  villages,  all  bringing  traffic  to  Hartford  and  adding  to 
her  fullness  of  life.  Residents  of  cosmopolitan  habits  with  unanimity 
aver  that  no  equal  area  on  the  planet  contains  so  many  beautiful 
drives  over  good  roads,  and  strangers,  after  devoting  a  few  summer 
days  to  the  enjoyment,  generally  acquiesce  in  the  correctness  of  the 
claim. 

RAILWAY    SERVICE. 

Railways  radiate  from  the  city  in  seven  directions,  leaving  no  ter- 
ritory undrained,  and  relatively  speaking  the  extent  is  surpassed  by 
the  quality  of  the  service.  On  the  "  Consolidated  "  road  sixteen  pas- 
senger trains  run  daily  to  New  York  and  Boston,  the  fastest  at  the 
rate  of  forty  miles  an  hour,  including  stops.  Accommodation  alternate 
with  express  trains  in  a  way  to  give  intermediate  stations  the  benefit 
of  the  quickest  service  beyond  the  nearest  city  without  delay  to 
through  travel.  With  the  rapid  removal  of  draw-bridges  and  grade 
crossings  the  running  time  will  be  still  further  reduced.  The  rails 
are  of  heavy  steel,  the  road-bed  ballasted  with  rock,  the  cars  luxuri- 
ous, and  devices,  contrived  to  promote  the  comfort  and  safety  of  the 
public,  are  tested  as  they  appear,  and  freely  adopted.  This  is  the 
only  line  in  the  country  which  has  voluntarily  reduced  fares  to  a  uni- 
form rate  of  two  cents  a  mile,  and  perhaps  the  only  one  which  can 
afford  to  make  the  concession,  for  the  element  of  water  is  so  far  ab- 
sent from  the  property  that  it  could  not  be  duplicated  to-day  for  less 
than  three  times  the  amount  of  its  outstanding  stock  and  bonds.  The 
shares  injected  by  the  Schuyler  frauds  and  old  consolidations  are  off- 
set many  times  over  by  earnings  expended  in  construction  and  by 
enhancement  of  values  due  to  growth  of  population  and  wealth.  A 
single  line  connects  the  city  with  ample  pier  accommodations,  not 
only  in  New  York  harbor,  but  also  at  Bridgeport,  New  Haven,  Say- 
brook,  and   New  London.      Local  freights  are   low,  and  to   all  distant 


HARTFORD  :     RAILWAY    SERVICE.       WATER    TRANSPORTATION.        19 

points  Hartford  is  put  on  a  footing  of  equality  with  New  York. 
Goods  requiring  care  in  handling  are  forwarded  in  cars  furnished 
with  passenger  trucks. 

Over  the  New  England  road,  double-tracked  the  entire  distance 
except  for  twenty  miles  between  Vernon  and  Willimantic,  Hartford 
has  a  second  line  to  Boston,  furnished  with  the  best  terminal  facilities 
to  be  found  in  that  city.  From  Willimantic  a  branch  —  once  the  main 
trunk  —  extends  to  Providence.  Westward  the  New  England  connects 
at  Newburg  with  the  Erie  and  the  Pennsylvania  coal  fields.  Within 
a  few  years,  by  consolidations  and  extensions,  this  has  expanded  into 
one  of  the  great  systems  of  the  East,  the  physical  improvement  of 
the  property  meanwhile  keeping  pace  fully  with  the  increasing  de- 
mands of  travel  and  traffic. 

The  Connecticut  Western,  flanking  the  Talcott  hills  on  the  north 
and  crossing  the  southern  spurs  of  the  Green  Mountain  range  in  the 
northwestern  corner  of  the  State,  opens  an  independent  and  compet- 
ing route  to  the  anthracite  coal  region,  over  the  new  bridge  at  Pough- 
keepsie  —  the  only  bridge  spanning  the  Hudson  below  Albany. 

The  transition  from  the  turnpike,  winding  wearily  over  endless 
hills,  and  at  times  almost  impassable  from  snow  or  mud  to  the 
smooth  pathway  of  glittering  steel  —  from  the  cramped  and  comfort- 
less stage  coach  to  the  palace  car  —  has  been  wrought  within  the 
memory  of  many  who  still  think  themselves  young,  for  the  whistle  of 
the  locomotive  first  sounded  in  Hartford  late  in  1839.  The  trip  between 
New  York  and  Boston,  previously  filling  four  long  and  wearisome 
days,  is  now  luxuriously  accomplished  in  six  hours. 

WATER    TRANSPORTATION. 

Besides  excellent  railway  facilities  Hartford  has  an  outlet  for  its  com- 
merce by  water,  the  river  opening  for  navigation  about  March  25th,  and 
closing  about  December  10th.  The  Transportation  Company,  which  does 
most  of  the  business,  owns  two  steamers,  eight  tugs,  and  twelve  barges. 
Its  two  steamboats  make  daily  trips  to  and  from  New  York,  carrying 
both  passengers  and  freight.  The  City  of  Springfield,  a  craft  of  1,417 
tons  burden,  drawing  from  nine  to  ten  feet  according  to  load,  when  the 
river  closed  last  winter  had  lost  but  two  trips  in  five  years.  The 
tugs    have    a    capacity    for    towing    1,000    tons  each  up   stream,  except 


20  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

in  times  of  freshet,  and  from  3,000  to  6,000  tons  on  the  Sound.  Ordinary 
barges  now  bring  600  tons,  and  the  next  size  to  be  built  will  carry 
800,  the  capacity  having  been  increased  from  200,  the  largest  in  use 
fifteen  years  ago.  On  the  Saybrook  bar  the  depth  of  water  is  twelve 
feet  at  medium  tide.  Over  400,000  tons  of  freight  are  shipped  to  and 
from  Hartford  every  season  by  river.  In  1888,  the  Transportation 
Company  brought  140,000  tons  of  coal,  while  large  quantities  of  coal 
and  lumber  were  brought  by  craft  belonging  to  other  parties.  This 
great  natural  highway  guarantees  in  perpetuity  low  rates  for  freight. 

In  the  summer  months  the  Sunshine  makes  tri-weekly  trips  to 
Sag  Harbor,  stopping  at  New  London  and  other  intermediate  points. 
Propellers  and  other  independent  craft  come  and  go  from  various 
ports  as  cargoes  offer.  About  $10,000  are  expended  annually  by  the 
government  to  deepen  the  channel,  and  otherwise  improve  the  nav- 
igation of  the  Connecticut. 

A    PORT  OF   ENTRY. 

The  customs  district  of  Hartford  embraces  all  river  towns  from 
Saybrook  to  the  Massachusetts  line,  with  this  as  the  port  of  entry. 
The  entire  collections  reach  $250,000  per  annum,  of  which  four-fifths, 
or  $200,000,  are  upon  goods  either  consumed  in  or  distributed  from 
this  city  through  local  merchants.  Most  of  the  imports  are  brought 
by  rail  under  government  locks  without  detention  in  New  York  or 
Boston.  It  is  estimated  that  at  least  $125,000  additional  are  paid 
elsewhere  every  year  on  merchandise  consigned  to  Hartford  parties. 

INSURANCE. 

In  enumerating  the  activities  of  Hartford  one  naturally  begins 
with  insurance,  for  the  town  was  a  pioneer  on  this  line  of  effort,  and 
has  passed  triumphantly  through  sore  straits  and  great  public  disasters, 
winning  by  pure  merit  a  preeminence,  which  promises  to  be  permanent. 
Beginning  in  a  small  way  by  the  issuance  of  marine  and  fire  policies, 
she  afterwards  established  life  companies,  and  later  on  diverged  into 
special  branches,  wherein  her  success  has  provoked  many  imitators, 
most  of  whom  have  paid  dearly  for  their  rashness.  Leadership  has 
been    gained    not    by  luck  or    accident  or   favoring   circumstances,  but 


FIRE     INSURANCE.  21 

by  profound  study  of  the  facts  and  principles  involved  in  the  business, 
by  high  native  intelligence,  sharpened  to  a  keen  edge  in  frequent 
adversities,  by  patient  endurance  through  periods  of  misfortune,  by 
heroic  courage  in  meeting  exceptional  calamities,  and  not  least  by 
scrupulous  integrity  in  dealings  with  the  public.  Sporadic  cases  of 
dishonesty  will  occur  everywhere,  but  here  instances  of  the  kind  have 
been  rare,  and  even  before  any  overt  act,  men  suspected  of  crooked 
proclivities  have  found  the  atmosphere  extremely  uncongenial  and 
repellent.  A  few  years  ago  when  reputed  wreckers  from  over  the  border 
obtained  control  of  the  Charter  Oak  Life,  the  intrusion  roused  a  storm 
of  righteous  indignation,  which  swept  them  out  in  spite  of  herculean 
efforts  to  retain  possession.  This  was  the  first  and  last  attempt  of 
professional  manipulators  to  capture  a  Hartford  company,  the  raid 
ending  in  such  ignominious  failure  that  the  memory  of  it  is  likely  to 
preclude  for  coming  time  repetition  of  the  experiment.  Aside  from 
the  ruin  of  the  Charter  Oak,  the  history  of  the  business  here,  old  and  full 
as  it  is,  offers  but  one  other  instance  where  bankruptcy  can  be  traced 
even  remotely  to  improper  practices. 

From  the  inhospitality  extended  to  the  strangers  who  were  driven 
from  the  Charter  Oak,  it  would  be  an  error  to  infer  that  feelings  of 
provincialism  or  narrowness  have  any  share  in  the  conduct  of  the 
business.  Ability,  character,  special  aptitudes,  technical  skill,  are  both 
welcomed  and  drafted  from  every  quarter.  Less  than  one-half  the 
men  now  managing  the  home  offices  were  born  in  Connecticut,  and 
a  bare  half  dozen  in  Hartford,  for  in  her  cosmopolitanism  she  takes  as 
freely  as  she  gives.  In  brief,  the  phenomenal  success  of  the  city  in 
underwriting  has  been  gained  by  intelligence  and  integrity. 

A  pecuniary  measure  of  the  popular  estimate  of  the  mental  and 
moral  solidity  of  the  fire  insurance  management  may  be  found  in  the 
market  value  of  the  shares  of  the  several  comparries,  for  with  one 
billion  of  dollars  at  risk  and  liable  to  destruction,  they  sell  at  a 
price  which,  after  the  payment  of  taxes,  leaves  an  average  income  of 
about  six  per  cent,  a  year  on  the  investment. 


22 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


HARTFORD     FIRE     INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

The  lessons  of  history  are  most  easily  learned  by  examples.  The 
Hartford  was  chartered  in  May,  1810,  but  from  a  policy  still  extant 
seems  to  have  had  an  inchoate  being  as  early  as  1794.  On  the  10th 
of  June  following'  the  company  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  Na- 
thaniel Terry  as  president  and  Walter  Mitchell  as  secretary,  with  a 
capital  of  $150,000,  made  up  of  ten  per  cent,  in  cash  and  the  balance 
in  the  notes  of  shareholders,  secured  by  mortgages  or  approved  in- 
dorsements. It  was  hoped  that  the  profits  would  gradually  pay  off 
the  notes,  removing  the  liability  to  further  assessments,  but  the  makers 
were  men  of  pecuniary  solidity,  prepared  to  meet  the  obligations 
should  the  necessity  arise.     Thus   equipped  the  pioneer  company,  like 


THE    HARTFORD    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  23 

Columbus  at  Palos,  embarked  upon  an  unknown  sea,  little  dreaming 
of  the  discoveries  to  be  made,  the  wealth  to  be  won,  or  of  the  all- 
pervasive  influence  of  the  venture  upon  the  future  development  of  the 
town.  They  started  on  the  voyage  without  compass  or  chart,  for 
even  the  elementary  laws  underlying  the  business  had  not  then  been 
generalized,  the  facts  were  ungathered,  and  the  literature  of  the 
science,  now  loading  the  shelves  of  large  libraries,  had  not  thrown 
one  ray  of  light  athwart  the  darkness. 

Those  early  navigators  took  great  risks  —  risks  which  their  lineal 
successors,  though  commanding  three  hundred  and  fifty  times  the  vol- 
ume of  cash  assets,  would  scrutinize  closely  before  accepting. 

Policy  No.  5  covered  $11,000  on  a  gin  distillery,  at  1  per  cent, 
per  annum. 

No.   12,  $13,000  on  a  frame  store  and  stock,  at  87^  cents. 

No.  21,  $20,000  on  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  at  75  cents. 

No.  22,  $20,000  on  a  stock  of  hardware,  at  25   cents. 

The  hazard  was  less  than  it  seems,  for  the  character  of  the  in- 
sured, though  unmentioned  in  the  policy,  formed  one  of  the  most 
important  elements  in  the  contract.  Every  risk  was  accompanied  by 
a  survey  of  the  property,  and  the  written  representations  of  the  owner 
had  the  force  of  a  guaranty.  Persons  desiring  insurance  solicited  it 
as  a  privilege  from  the  officers  of  the  company,  and  being  required 
to  carry  themselves  a  material  part  of  the  hazard,  the  two  parties  to 
the  agreement  became  partners  in  the  venture.  A  man  of  bad  repu- 
tation found  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  policy  on  any  terms.  At  first 
no  commission  was  paid  to  agents,  their  compensation  coming  from 
the  survey  and  policy  fee,  which  varied  with  the  labor,  and  was  col- 
lected from  the  assured. 

For  the  first  year  the  income  of  the  company  was  $4,498,  and  the 
expenses  $530,  of  which  $300  went  in  salary  to  the  secretary,  with  an 
allowance  of  $30  extra  for  rent  and  firewood.  Measured  by  modern 
ideas  progress  was  very  slow,  and  hence  all  the  more  sure,  for  the 
managers  were  learning  the  principles  of  the  business  and  correcting 
in  the  germ  errors  which,  under  a  less  careful  system,  might  have 
grown  to  fatal  dimensions.  A  decade  later  the  annual  income  had 
crept  up  to  $10,102,  and  in  1832  to  $52,394.  showing  for  21  years  an 
average   annual  gain   of  about   $2,300.      During   a   part  of   the    period 


24  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

losses  were  heavy,  and  some  timid  holders  gave  away  their  shares  to 
get  rid  of  the  note-liability. 

In  June,  1835,  Eliphalet  Terry  became  president;  James  G.  Bolles, 
secretary;  and  C.  C.  Lyman,  assistant  secretary.  Mr.  Lyman  held  the 
place  43  years,  refusing  all  offers  of  promotion.  Six  months  of  re- 
markable prosperity  followed  the  installation  of  the  new  management, 
and  in  December  a  supper  was  given  to  celebrate  the  coming  divi- 
dend, which,  however,  was  doomed  to  disappear  in  smoke,  for  the  next 
day  came  news  of  the  great  fire  in  New  York  city.  The  losses  of 
the  company  exceeded  $60,000,  but  the  crisis  was  met  with  a  courage 
that  turned  a  calamity  into  a  blessing,  bringing  at  once  a  large,  per- 
manent, and  profitable  enlargement  to  the  volume  of  its  business. 
Mr.  Terry,  having  pledged  his  own  property  to  the  Hartford  Bank  as 
security  for  drafts  to  be  drawn,  with  Mr.  Bolles,  started  in  a  sleigh, 
with  the  mercury  below  zero,  to  grapple  in  person  with  the  issue. 
On  arriving  in  the  city  they  found  most  of  the  insurance  companies 
bankrupt,  and  a  state  of  despondency  bordering  on  panic.  Property 
owners  outside  of  the  burnt  district  felt  that  they  were  no  longer  pro- 
tected, while  the  actual  sufferers  looked  for  small  dividends  on  their 
policies.  Mr.  Terry  announced  that  he  would  pay  in  full  all  losses  of 
the  Hartford,  and  take  new  insurance.  The  promise  —  the  first  sign 
of  cheer  in  the  gloom  —  was  fulfilled  to  the  letter.  Business  poured 
in  at  highly  remunerative  rates,  and  the  deep  gap  in  its  assets  was 
soon  refilled. 

Between  July  19,  1845,  an^  May  18,  1849,  fires  occurred  at  New 
York  city,  Nantucket,  Albany,  and  St.  Louis,  which  cost  the  Hartford 
$69,691.30,  $54,521.65,  $57,637.43,  and  $58,676.83  respectively,  making 
a  total  of  $240,563.21  in  less  than  four  years,  or  more  than  the  total 
amount  of  its  gross  assets  at  either  the  beginning  or  end  of  the 
period.  Sixteen  years  of  exemption  from  notable  disasters  ensued,  to 
be  followed  in  swift  succession  by  the  fires  at  Augusta,  Maine,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1865;  at  Portland,  July  4,  1866;  and  at  Vicksburg,  De- 
cember 24,  1866;  involving  losses  of  $57,022.16,  $151,288.31,  and  $55,- 
077.55  respectively.  But  the  company  was  now  much  better  prepared 
to  withstand  the  strain,  for  the  capital  had  grown  to  a  million,  and 
even  after  the  extraordinary  payments  at  Portland  and  Vicksburg,  was 
able  to  add  over  $200,000  to  its  assets  from  the  business  of  1866. 


THE    HARTFORD    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  25 

Mr.  Terry  remained  president  till  his  death  in  1S49.  The  other 
presidents  have  been  Hezekiah  Huntington,  from  1849  to  1864; 
Timothy  C.  Allyn,  1864-7  i  and  George  L.  Chase,  the  present  incum- 
bent, since   1867. 

The  Hartford  entered  the  agency  field  early,  and  from  1854 
pushed  westward  and  southward  with  great  vigor,  having  the  head- 
quarters of  this  department  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  under  the  charge  of 
David  Alexander.  When  the  rebellion  cut  off  relations  with  the 
South  the  western  office  was  transferred  to  Chicago,  where  G.  F.  Bissell 
succeeded  Alexander  in  1863,  and  at  the  end  of  the  war  the  loss  of 
receipts  from  the  Southern  States  had  nearly  been  made  good  by  ex- 
tensions in  the  Northwest. 

The  capital  stock  remained  at  $150,000  —  90^  paid  in  earnings  — 
till  doubled  in  1854.  In  1857  it  was  increased  out  of  profits  to 
$500,000,  and  in  1864  the  company  celebrated  its  rounded  half 
century  by  a  third  stock  dividend  which  brought  the  capital  to  one 
million. 

The  year  1870  witnessed  the  completion  of  the  tasteful  and  con- 
venient home  office,  built  of  Quincy  granite,  having  a  frontage  of  60 
feet  on  Trumbull  and  100  feet  on  Pearl  streets,  with  four  stories  above 
the  basement. 

For  losses  incurred  in  the  Chicago  fire  of  October,  187 1,  the  Hart- 
ford paid  out  $1,968,225.32,  meeting  every  obligation  in  full.  A  bare 
million  —  a  sum  insufficient  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  re-in- 
surance fund  —  was  left  in  the  treasury.  By  a  vote  of  the  directors 
the  capital  was  reduced  to  $500,000,  and  at  once  increased  to 
$1,000,000  by  fresh  subscriptions,  the  rights  to  subscribe  commanding 
a  premium  of  $85  a  share  in  the  darkest  days  of  the  disaster. 
Thirteen  months  later,  November  9,  1872,  it  incurred  losses  amounting 
to  $485,356  at  the  Boston  fire,  but  met  the  drain  out  of  current 
receipts. 

During  the  last  decade  the  assets  of  the  Hartford  have  increased 
from  $3,456,021  to  $5,750,080;  the  net  surplus,  from  $935,399  to 
$2*233,982;  the  premium  income  from  $1,460,124  to  $2,594,587.  It  has 
disbursed  $2,500,000  in  cash  dividends  to  shareholders.  In  1877 
it  made  a  stock  dividend  of    $250,000  from  surplus.     From  the  invest- 


26 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


ments  alone  the    annual    income    is    sufficient   to  pay  twenty  per  cent, 
in  dividends  on  the  $1,250,000  of  capital. 

George  L.  Chase  has  been  president  of  the  company  since  1867. 
He  brought  to  the  position  a  rich  and  varied  experience,  and  his 
skill  as  a  pilot  was  early  put  to  the  test  in  carrying  the  institution 
successfully  through  the  calamities  at  Chicago  and  Boston,  which  over- 
whelmed most  of  its  cotemporaries.  P.  C.  Royce,  the  secretary,  and. 
Thomas  Turnbull,  assistant  secretary,  have  both  had  long  familiarity 
with  the  problems  of  underwriting. 


yETNA    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

The  JEtna.  Insurance 
Company,  the  second  in 
the  city  in  age  but  the 
largest  in  assets  and  busi- 
ness,   was     organized    in 

18 19,  with  Thomas  K. 
Brace  as  president  and 
Isaac  Perkins  as  secre- 
tary. Of  the  original  cap- 
ital of  $150,000,  ten  per 
cent,  was  paid  in  cash 
and  the  rest  in  the  notes 
of  shareholders.  How 
modest  were  the  begin- 
nings of  this  great  institu- 
tion appears  from  the  bal- 
ance sheet  presenting  its 
operations  up  to  May  31, 

1820.  On  the  debit  side 
the  principal  item  is  the 
dividend  of  6  per  cent., 
declared  Dec.  15,  1819,  on 

the  actual  cash  investment,  making  $900.  From  the  organization  till 
May  31,  1820,  the  total  current  expenses,  including  $225  for  rent  and 
the  salary  of  Isaac  Perkins,  reached  the  sum  of  $451.82.  During  this 
period  the  receipts  from  all  sources  amounted  to  $3,646.42,  and  as  no 


vETNA    INSURANCE    BUILDING. 


THE    .ETNA    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  2J 

losses  had  occurred  the  fiscal  year  closed  with  a  profit  balance  of 
S2.294.60. 

Until  the  formation  of  the  .'Etna  the  few  American  companies  in 
existence  restricted  their  efforts  almost  entirely  to  the  local  business 
that  could  be  conveniently  secured  by  the  executive  officers.  Very 
early  the  --Etna  initiated  a  radical  departure  from  the  previous  method, 
planting  agencies  cautiously  at  the  more  important  centers  of  trade, 
and  gradually  extending  the  system  till  every  desirable  place  in  the 
country  was  occupied.  April  2,  1822,  the  directors,  by  vote,  requested 
the  secretary  "  to  journey  on  the  sea-board  of  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire,  and  Maine,  thence  through  the  interior  of  the  country 
home,  and  establish  agencies  at  all  places  he  may  think  proper,  for 
which  he  shall  be  allowed  his  expenses  and  two  dollars  a  day  for  his 
services."  During  the  trip  the  per  diem  allowance  took  the  place  of 
salary. 

In  the  summer  of  1838  Mr.  Brace  made  a  trip  through  Central 
New  York,  going  as  far  west  as  Lockport,  and  returning  via  Mon- 
treal, Burlington,  and  Saratoga.  His  letters  by  the  way,  addressed  to 
Simeon  L.  Loomis,  secretary,  are  still  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the 
company.  The  journey,  which  would  now  require  a  week,  was  then 
leisurely  performed  between  the  middle  of  June  and  the  first  of 
September. 

No  small  part  of  the  pioneer  work  was  performed  by  the  early 
director,  who  traveled  west  and  south  by  stage  and  boat,  long  in  ad- 
vance of  railways,  establishing  outposts  at  frontier  towns  which  have 
since  developed  into  populous  cities.  In  this  way,  to  a  large  extent, 
Cincinnati,  Detroit,  Chicago,  Louisville,  St.  Louis,  Memphis.  Natchez, 
New  Orleans,  Mobile,  and  other  places  were  reached,  and  the  terri- 
tory partially  pre-empted. 

The  .-Etna  was  the  first  company  to  issue  a  fire  policy  in  Chicago, 
having  in  1834  appointed  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  to  represent  it.  The 
document  was  on  exhibition  in  the  historical  library  of  that  city  till 
destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1S71.  Mr.  Hubbard  remained  a  trusted  agent 
of  the  company  till  his  retirement,  after  more  than  thirty  years  of 
faithful  service. 

During  the  period  of  infancy,  while  the  company  was  fighting  for 
existence,  the  economical  scale   of  expenditure   arranged  for  Secretary 

/ 


28  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

Perkins  on  his  initiatory  trip  through  New  England  was  rigorously 
adhered  to.  Just  twenty  years  later,  in  1842,  Joseph  Morgan,  one  of 
the  original  directors,  made  an  extensive  circuit,  taking  in  New  Or- 
leans and  Chicago  and  all  the  important  intermediate  towns.  The 
journey,  estimated  at  6,104  miles,  occupied  ten  weeks,  at  an  average 
expense,  including  fares  and  hotel  bills,  of  $3.29  per  day.  Chicago 
then  had  from  four  to  five  thousand  inhabitants.  The  seed  thus  scat- 
tered by  the  way-side  has  already  brought  forth  fruit  an  hundred  fold, 
and  the  harvest  has  hardly  begun. 

The  ./Etna  escaped  the  fire  of  Dec.  16,  1835,  m  New  York  city — 
the  first  in  the  series  of  great  American  conflagrations  —  which  de- 
stroyed property  to  the  value  of  $15,000,000,  and  bankrupted  twenty- 
three  out  of  twenty-six  local  insurance  companies.  It  entered  the  city 
the  following  year,  having  for  agent  Augustus  E.  Hazard,  afterwards 
the  organizer  and  president  of  the  Hazard  Powder  Co.  of  Enfield.  It 
was  not  so  fortunate  in  the  fire  of  1845,  which  swept  $6,000,000  of 
property  from  the  business  center  of  the  metropolis,  and  cost  the 
/Etna  $115,000.  When  the  news  reached  Hartford  Mr.  Brace  called 
together  the  directors  and  told  them  that  the  calamity  would  proba- 
bly exhaust  the  entire  resources  of  the  company.  Going  to  the  fire- 
proof he  took  out  and  laid  on  the  table  the  stocks  and  bonds  repre- 
senting its  investments.  Little  was  said,  each  member  waiting  for 
some  one  else  to  take  the  initiative.  At  length  the  silence  was 
broken  by  the  question,  "  Mr.  Brace,  what  will  you  do  ? " 

"  Do,"  replied  he,  "  Go  to  New  York  and  pay  the  losses  if  it 
takes  every  dollar  there,"  pointing  to  the  packages,  "and  my  own 
fortune  besides." 

"Good,  good,"  responded  the  others.  "  We  will  stand  by  you  with 
our  fortunes  also." 

Such  an  increase  of  premium-receipts  followed  that  in  twelve 
months  the  /Etna  was  as  strong  in  cash  as  before. 

Affairs  ran  along  with  the  usual  vicissitudes  till  1849,  when  the 
company  was  called  upon  to  contribute  $125,000  to  the  sufferers  at 
St.  Louis,  and  to  see  nearly  one-half  of  its  capital  of  $300,000  evapo- 
rate in  the  disaster.  But  the  season  of  storms  which  culminated  at 
St.  Louis  and  sent  many  competitors  to  the  bottom,  convinced  the 
public  of  the  inherent  staunchness   of  the  /Etna,  and   by   the    prudent 


THE   /ETNA    [NSURANCE    COMPANY.  29 

enterprise  of  its  managers  even  cruel  reverses,  to  the  general  interests 
of  fire  insurance  were  made  to  bring  to  it  large  accessions  of  business 
and  revenue. 

The  Protection,  the  third  insurance  company  organized  at  Hartford, 
failed  in  1854  through  the  continuous  unprofitableness  of  its  marine 
department,  aggravated  by  the  incurable  injuries  received  at  St.  Louis 
in  1849.  It  had  been  the  pioneer  in  occupying  the  small  as  well  as 
the  large  towns  of  the  west,  but  the  gains  from  these  sources  were 
insufficient  to  offset  the  losses  incurred  at  sea  and  on  our  inland 
waters.  Here  was  a  broad  gap  to  be  filled,  and  the  /Etna  lost  no 
time  in  meeting  the  emergency,  for  it  opened  a  branch  office  at 
Cincinnati  in  1853  with  the  firm  purpose  of  keeping  step  with 
civilization  in  progressive  occupancy  of  the  west.  When  a  few  months 
later  the  Protection  yielded  up  the  ghost  a  material  share  of  the  business 
dropped  as  ripened  fruit  into  the  lap  of  its  rival.  Soon  a  thousand 
agents  were  at  work  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  in  the  ensuing 
period  of  exemption  from  large  fires  the  company  rolled  up  wealth 
with  a  rapidity  never  equaled  before  either  in  the  United  States 
or  elsewhere.  In  1854  the  capital  was  increased  from  $300,000  to 
$500,000,  one-half  contributed  by  shareholders  and  the  other  half  by  a 
dividend  from  profits.  The  figures  remained  at  this  point  but  a  short 
time,,  for  in  1857  they  were  changed  to  an  even  million.  In  1859, 
from  the  profits  of  two  years,  the  owners  were  gladdened  by  a  second 
stock  dividend  of  half  a  million,  which  was  followed  in  1864  by  another 
for  $750,000.  Evidently  the  figures,  $2,250,000,  offended  the  eyes  of 
the  directors,  and  accordingly,  after  enduring  the  sight  for  two  short 
years,  they  raised  the  capitalization  in  1866  by  a  stock  dividend  to 
the  rounded,  symmetrical,  and  artistic  sum  of  $3,000,000. 

In  April,  1852,  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  called  for  $115,000,  and  three 
months  later  Montreal  took  $105,000.  For  the  next  ten  years  the 
company  enjoyed  remarkable  immunity  from  large  losses,  considering 
the  extent  and  magnitude  of  its  business.  With  the  turn  of  the  tide 
even  the  $163,000  required  to  settle  the  Portland  claims  in  July,  1866. 
and  the  $120,000  sent  to  Vicksburg  in  January,  1S67,  did  not  per- 
ceptibly interrupt  the  upward  flow  of  assets. 

Not  content  with  furnishing  indemnity  to  an  ever-widening  circle 
of  patrons  the  /Etna  initiated  the  work  of  educating  the  public  in  art 


30  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

by  publishing  the  first  chromo  poster  in  1855.  The  picture  represented 
a  steamer  throwing  a  stream  of  water  upon  a  burning  block.  How  deep 
in  human  nature  lay  the  hitherto  dormant  and  unconscious  appetite 
destined  to  be  roused  by  the  venture  into  omniverous  voracity,  was 
quickly  disclosed  through  the  abundance  of  aliment  supplied  for  its 
gratification. 

The  company  was  the  first  to  introduce  the  use  of  outline  charts 
in  1857.  Out  of  this  germ  grew  the  Sanborn  maps,  now  an  essential 
part  of  the  equipment  of  all  large  offices. 

By  the  Chicago  fire  of  187 1  the  .-Etna  lost  $3,782,000.  To  meet 
the  impairment  the  capital  was  reduced  one-half,  and  immediately  re- 
filled by  cash  payments  of  $1,500,000.  Thirteen  months  afterwards 
the  Boston  fire  absorbed  $1,635,067  more,  and  the  inroad  was  made 
good  by  a  further  contribution  of  $1,000,000  from  the  shareholders, 
making  two  and  one-half  millions  furnished  by  them  in  a  year  to 
maintain  the  technical  solvency  of  the  company.  After  deducting  the 
losses  at  Chicago,  over  $2,600,000  of  assets  were  left  in  the  treasury 
exclusive  of  the  fresh  contributions.  In  1881,  the  capital  was  raised 
to  $4,000,000  by  an  issue  of  $1,000,000  of  new  stock  to  the  share- 
holders at  par,  not  as  in  187 1  in  consequence  of  unusual  disasters, 
but  simply  to  make  it  the  largest  fire  insurance  company  in  the 
country.  Prior  to  January  1,  1889,  the  /Etna  had  paid  in  losses, 
$63,046,000,  and  at  the  same  time  had  in  its  strong  box  $9,780,751 
in  solid  securities. 

The  presidents  of  the  .•Etna  have  been  Thomas  K.  Brace,  1819-1857  ; 
Edwin  G.  Ripley,  1857-1862 ;  Thomas  A.  Alexander,  1862-1866; 
Lucius  J.  Hendee,  1866  till  his  death,  September  4,  1888.  Mr.  Hendee 
was  succeeded  by  J.  Goodnow,  who  had  been  secretary  since  1866, 
and  at  the  same  time  William  B.  Clark,  assistant  secretary  for  twenty 
years,  was  promoted  to  the  vice-presidency.  Both  of  these  gentlemen 
have  been  with  the  institution  through  periods  of  trouble  as  well  as 
prosperity,  and  both  are  eminently  qualified  to  carry  it  forward  in  its 
career  of  growth  and  usefulness. 

The  other  officers  are  Andrew  C.  Bayne,  secretary ;  James  F.  Dudley 
and  William  H.  King,  assistant  secretaries ;  E.  J.  Bassett,  general 
agent ;  and  J.  C.  Hilliard,  T.  P.  Stowell,  E.  O.  Weeks,  C.  H.  Hollister, 
E.  W.  Jenness,  H.  E.  Rees,  and  W.  A.  Warburton,  special  agents. 


THE    PHCENJX    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 


31 


PHCENIX    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

The  Phoenix,  the  third  and  only  remaining  stock  company  of  Hart- 
ford which  had  accumulated  a  sufficient  volume  of  assets  to  pay  in 
full  the  enormous  losses  sustained  in  Chicago  in  187 1,  was  seventeen 
years  old  when  struck  by  the  cyclone,  having  been  organized  June  21, 
1854,  under  a  perpetual  charter  granted  by  the  legislature  the  pre- 
vious May.  When  opened  the  subscription  books  called  for  a  capital 
of  $100,000,  but  so  eager  were  the  public  to  join  in  the  venture  that 
at  the  first  meeting  for  the  election  of  officers  it  was  voted  to  in- 
crease the  amount  to  $200,000,  and  one  week  later,  the  date  fixed  for 
the  additional  subscriptions,  the  shares  were  instantly  taken  with  no 
abatement  of  eagerness.  N.  H.  Morgan  was  chosen  first  president, 
and  Henry  Kellogg,  who  drew  the  charter,  selected  the  corporators, 
and  really  formed,  the  company,  secretary. 

Unlike  its  elder  brothers,  the  Hartford  and  /Etna,  the  Phoenix  did 
not  pass  through  a  prolonged  period  of  infancy,  but  by  a  few  stalwart 
bounds  leaped  into  the  strength  and  responsibilities  of  manhood,  for 
at  the  outset  its  guiding  spirits  brought  to  the  work  the  skill  and 
experience  acquired  in  long-established  schools,  and  were  thus  able  to 
render  immediately  available  the  stores  of  knowledge  accumulated  by 
experts  during  forty  years  of  underwriting.     According  to  custom  the 


32  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

directors  called  for  an  installment  of  ten  per  cent,  in  cash,  and  took 
the  notes  of  the  subscribers  for  the  balance.  On  the  15th  of  June, 
1855,  a  dividend  of  $20,000  was  endorsed  on  the  stock  notes,  and  six 
months  later  a  second  of  equal  amount  was  similarly  applied. 

But  the  exigencies  of  the  situation  did  not  permit  the  delay  re- 
quired to  pay  the  stock  notes  out  of  profits,  even  at  the  rate  of  ten 
per  cent,  semi-annually.  Numerous  failures  among  fire  insurance  com- 
panies gave  rise  in  various  quarters  to  more  stringent  legislation,  and 
several  of  the  States  passed  laws  permitting  only  those  whose  capitals 
were  fully  paid  in  cash  to  do  business  within  their  borders.  Accord- 
ingly, on  the  25th  of  February,  1856,  the  directors  voted  to  call  in 
the  remaining  70  per  cent.,  and  by  the  28th  of  March  the  money  was 
all  in  the  treasury. 

Simeon  L.  Loomis,  an  underwriter  trained  in  the  ./Etna  under  Mr. 
Brace,  was  elected  president  June  27,  1855,  and,  being  a  master  of  all 
the  intricacies  of  the  profession,  commanded  the  confidence  of  his 
associates  while  pushing  into  new  territory  with  a  vigor  that,  guided 
by  less  intelligent  foresight,  might  have  passed  for  rashness.  At  his 
death  in  August,  1863,  the  office  passed  into  the  hands  of  Henry 
Kellogg,  who  presided  at  the  birth  of  the  company,  and  whose  life 
efforts  have  been  devoted  to  its  success.  The  business  grew  rapidly, 
and  was  profitable.  Five  years  from  the  date  of  organization  the 
capital  was  doubled,  one-half  of  the  addition  having  been  contributed 
in  a  stock  dividend  from  profits,  and  the  other  half  by  cash  subscrip- 
tions. In  1864  the  capital  was  increased  to  $600,000  by  an  issue  of 
shares  at  par.  The  progressive  policy  of  the  managers  was  re- 
flected back  in  a  large  increase  of  premium  receipts,  which  rose  from 
less  than  $600,000  in  1864  to  over  $1,100,000  in  1866,  and  which 
were    afterwards   pushed   steadily   upwards,  till,  in    1888,  they   reached 

$2,345^57-^- 

In    187 1,   the    Phcenix    had    accumulated    over    $1,900,000    of    solid 

assets,  which  enabled  it  to  pay  in  full  at  Chicago  losses,  under  280 
policies,  amounting  to  $937,219.23.  Marshall  Jewell,  a  large  stock- 
holder and  a  director,  happening  to  be  in  Detroit  at  the  time,  hurried 
thither  to  look  after  the  interests  of  the  company.  A  feeling  of 
despair  pervaded  the  city.  Thousands  of  homeless  people  were  en- 
camped   on    the    outskirts    without    money,  without   hope,  and    almost 


THE    PHCENIX    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  33 

without  clothing  and  food.  In  a  calamity  so  unlooked  for  and  over- 
whelming, and  hence  so  far  removed  from  the  hazards  contemplated 
in  the  business  of  underwriting,  the  sufferers  believed  their  policies  to 
be  practically  worthless.  Press  dispatches  laden  with  painful  rumors 
deepened  the  despondency. 

Soon  after  his  arrival,  Governor  Jewell  met  E.  J.  Bassett,  general 
agent  of  the  /Etna,  when  both  agreed  that  some  decisive  step  must 
be  taken  at  once  to  declare  the  resolution  of  their  respective  com- 
panies, and  to  turn  into  more  hopeful  channels  the  currents  of  popu- 
lar feeling.  On  the  morning  of  October  13th,  they  stood  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  overlooking  three  thousand  flame-swept  acres,  from 
which  a  mighty  city  had  vanished.  Around  was  a  surging,  sullen, 
half-crazed,  despairing  crowd,  which  seemed  to  feel  that  even  the 
foundations  of  the  earth  were  crumbling  with  the  destruction  of  their 
fortunes.  At  this  juncture  Governor  Jewell,  mounted  on  a  dry  goods 
box,  with  a  smile  in  itself  a  benediction,  announced  that  the  Phcenix 
would  pay  all  losses  in  full,  and  offered  to  draw  his  check  on  the 
spot  for  any  claim  approved  by  H.  M.  Magill,  general  agent  of  the 
western  department.  Shortly  policy  No.  10,752  for  $10,000  was  pre- 
sented by  Isaac  C.  Day,  when  as  director,  Mr.  Jewell  drew  on  the 
company  for  the  full  amount,  less  interest  for  two  months  —  the  term 
allowed  for  payment. 

Though  the  remarks  of  Governor  Jewell  contained  no  suggestion 
of  oratorical  display,  no  other  speech  ever  delivered  in  the  Lake 
City  compressed  into  a  few  words  so  much  cheer  and  helpfulness,  or 
changed  so  quickly  and  effectively  the  temper  of  the  people.  The 
draft  bears  date  Oct.  13,  1871.  Immediately  the  Tribune  dropped 
from  its  window  a  huge  placard,  announcing  that  the  Phcenix  of  Hart- 
ford had  begun  to  pay  its  losses  in  full.  As  the  news  spread  from 
one  to  another,  the  multitude  cheered,  and  cried,  and  laughed  by 
turns.  From  over-burdened  hearts  the  vapors  began  to  roll  away,  as 
even  then  the  clouds  of  smoke  were  drifting  from  the  scene,  and,  as 
if  her  baptismal  name  had  been  selected  in  anticipation  of  the  event, 
both  company  and  city  rose  from  the  ashes  stronger  than  before. 

A  few  feet  from  Governor  Jewell.  Mr.  Bassett  made  a  like  an- 
nouncement for  the  .Etna,  and  using  a  barrel  head  for  a  desk,  drew 
his  check  on  the  company,  dated  Oct.    13,    1871,  to  the  order  of  John 


34  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

J!.  Drake  for  $7,350,  in  full  settlement  of  all  demands  under  policy 
No.  34.382. 

The  8th  and  9th  of  October,  187 1,  are  also  memorable  in  insur- 
ance annals  on  account  of  the  simultaneous  forest  fires  in  Michigan 
and  Wisconsin,  which  drew  from  the  coffers  of  the  Phcenix  $50,176.73, 
making  the  total  losses  for  the  two  days  $987,395.96,  or  one  hundred 
and  sixty-four  per  cent,  on  its  capital  stock.  After  meeting  without 
delay  these  extraordinary  demands,  the  company  had  nearly  a  million 
of  assets  left,  but  to  repair  the  reserves  required  by  law,  the  capital 
was  reduced,  December  1,  one-half  to  $300,000,  and  immediately  re- 
stored through  subscription  of  the  stockholders.  Although  the  Boston 
fire  of  Nov.  10,  1872,  called  for  $385,956.18  more,  the  burden  was 
met   without    assistance    from    the    shareholders. 

The  capital  was  increased  to  $1,000,000  in  April,  1876,  and 
to  $2,000,000  in  April,  1881.  Since  its  organization  it  has  paid 
nearly  five  millions  in  dividends  and  over  twenty-four  millions  in 
losses,   and    now   has    assets    of    over    five    millions. 

The  supervision  of  Henry  Kellogg  as  secretary  and  president  cov- 
ers the  entire  life  of  the  Phoenix.  Asa  W.  Jillson  was  elected  vice- 
president  April  23,  1864,  and  brought  to  the  position  a  large  acquaint- 
ance with  manufacturing  interests.  He  resigned  from  ill  health, 
August  1,  1888.  The  secretaries  have  been  Henry  Kellogg,  June, 
1854-August,  1863  ;  Win.  B.  Clarke,  August,  1863-November,  1867  ; 
DeWitt  C.  Skilton,  November,  1867-August  1,  1888  ;  George  H.  Bur- 
dick,  since  August  1,  1888.  Mr.  Skilton  succeeded  Mr.  Jillson  as 
vice-president,  August  1,  1888.  J.  H.  Mitchell  was  elected  second 
vice-president,  Sept.  n,  1888,  and  Charles  E.  Galacar,  assistant-secre- 
tary, March   10,   1888. 

THE    CONNECTICUT    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

This  institution  was  organized  in  1850,  with  a  strong  directory 
under  a  perpetual  charter.  B.  W.  Greene,  the  first  president, 
held  the  office  till  1865,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  B.  El- 
dridge,  till  then  the  secretary.  Like  the  Hartford  and  the  zEtna,  the 
Connecticut  passed  through  a  long  novitiate,  and  like  them,  by  stal- 
wart strides,  later  on  reached  a  secure  place  in  the  front  rank  of 
American   companies.     Beginning   with    a   capital    of    $200,000,    mostly 


THE    CONNECTICUT    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY'S    ^UILDING. 


3D  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    COXX. 

invested  in  the  notes  of  the  subscribers,  as  was  then  the  uniform 
local  custom,  it  paid  dividends  with  commendable  regularity,  but 
advanced  slowly  in  accumulating  riches,  for  at  the  end  of  the  first 
decade  its  gross  assets  slightly  exceeded  $230,000,  though  at  the 
end  of  the  second  they  rose  to  nearly  5400,000,  progress  having  been 
rapid  after  1866.  By  a  policy  deliberately  adopted  and  consistently 
pursued,  the  management  restricted  the  operations  of  the  company  to 
non-hazardous  risks,  subordinating  ambition  for  large  receipts  to  desire 
for  safety.  For  similar  reasons,  agencies  were  planted  with  caution, 
and  chiefly  in  towns  with  well-equipped  fire  departments.  Although 
bringing  an  excellent  reputation  and  solid  prosperity,  the  prevision 
that  long  avoided  extraordinary  perils  served  to  paint  in  stronger 
contrast  the  overwhelming  misfortune  of  187 1,  at  Chicago.*  In  that 
fire,  the  losses  of  the  Connecticut  considerably  exceeded  its  entire 
assets,  but  its  representatives  settled  all  claims,  thus  preserving  a  val- 
uable charter. 

Underwriters  were  taught  by  the  hard  lesson,  that  the,  day  of 
small  companies  had  gone  to  return  no  more,  and  accordingly,  after 
the  removal  of  the  debris,  the  Connecticut  reorganized  with  a  fully- 
paid  capital  of  §500,000.  A  year  later,  the  Boston  conflagration 
called  for  Si 20.000,  but  within  a  few  weeks  the  premium  income 
more  than  repaired  the  loss. 

In  1873,  M.  Bennett,  Jr.,  secretary  since  1865,  was  elected  presi- 
dent, and.  Charles  R.  Burt,  secretary.  Mr.  Bennett  retired  in  1880, 
and  was  succeeded  by  J.  D.  Browne,  then  secretary  of  the  Hartford 
fire  insurance  company,  who  now  holds  the  office.  L.  W.  Clarke, 
president  of  the  Meriden  fire  insurance  company,  became  assistant 
secretary.  In  1876,  the  capital  was  increased  by  cash  subscriptions 
to  one  million  of  dollars. 

The  home  office  of  the  Connecticut  is  one  of  the  most  notable 
structures  in  the  city,  combining  beauty  and  utility  to  a  degree 
rarely  attained.  The  location  at  the  corner  of  Prospect  and  Grove 
streets,  within  a  block  of  State  House  Square  on  the  north,  and 
Main  Street  on  the  west,  is  central,  quiet,  and  in  every  way  desira- 
ble. It  is  built  of  brick,  brown-stone,  and  terra  cotta.  after  the 
Byzantine  style  of  architecture,  fifty  eight  by  one  hundred  and  twenty 
feet,  two  stories  in  height,  with    an    hexagonal   tower  of   three  stories, 


♦ 


THE    CONNECTICUT    FIRE    IXSURAN'CE    COMPANY.  37 

every  part  of  which  is  utilized.  The  general  office,  forty  by  forty- 
rive,  with  ceiling  twenty  feet  high,  lighted  and  ventilated  on  three 
sides,  is  not  only  admirably  adapted  to  the  present  requirements 
of  the  business,  but  will  answer  equally  well,  when  its  magnitude 
shall  have  expanded  four  or  five  fold.  Directly  Ln  the  rear  of  this 
is  placed  the  steel  vault,  twenty  feet  square  on  the  floor,  and 
twenty-two  feet  high,  so  arranged  with  galleries  and  light  stair-cases 
as  to  afford  a  maximum  of  available  and  easily  accessible  space. 
Underneath  is  a  second  vault  of  equal  length  and  breadth,  which 
will  ultimately  be  needed  for  storage  purposes.  The  vestibule,  the 
rooms  of  the  directors  and  president,  and  the  large  clerical  room,  all 
finished  in  hard  woods,  are  models  of  quiet  elegance.  The  company 
occupy  the  entire  building,  and  all  the  supplies  of  a  large  insurance 
company  can  be  prepared  for  shipment  within  its  walls.  Built  upon 
land  advantageously  purchased  at  a  time  when  the  cost  of  material 
and  labor  was  low,  the  enterprise  has  proved  profitable  in  giving 
every  desirable  convenience  at   the  equivalent  of  a  small  rental. 

Since  the  date  of  reorganization,  in  187 1,  the  history  of  the  Con- 
necticut is  the  record  of  continuous  and  uninterrupted  progress,  which, 
though  bare  of  dramatic  incidents,  is  of  a  kind  to  bring  contentment 
to  patrons  and  solid  satisfaction  to  shareholders.  In  1877  the  assets 
were  $1,388,313,  the  premiums  $356,815,  and  the  investment  earnings 
$76,460;  in  1882  the  several  accounts  had  grown  to  $1,781,626,  $713,- 
446,  and  $81,787,  respectively;  and  in  1888,  six  years  later,  to  $2,260,- 
917,  $1,020,022,  and  $100,054. 

From  the  books  it  appears  that  during  the  period  its  premium  re- 
ceipts have  nearly  trebled ;  that  its  assets  have  increased  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy-two  thousand  dollars,  and  its  investment  earnings 
thirty-three  per  cent.,  notwithstanding  the  tendency  to  reduced  rates 
of  interest,  and  the  further  fact  that  the  stockholders  have  received 
meanwhile  nine  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars  in  dividends. 
Although  the  dividends  seem  large  in  the  aggregate,  they  have,  during 
the  past  five  years,  been  drawn  wholly  from  the  income  of  assets, 
besides  leaving  a  balance  of  $68,850  from  this  source  as  a  contribu- 
tion to  the  reserves.  All  the  profits  from  the  insurance  department 
proper  have  been  used  to  fortify  the  strength  of  the  company. 

The  Connecticut  has   agencies  in  nearly  every  State    and   Territory 


I 


38  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

of  the  Union,  and  also  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  where  a  deposit 
of  $100,000  is  required.  Abram  Williams  of  Chicago,  is  manager  of 
the  western  department,  and  Robert  Dickson  of  San  Francisco,  of  the 
Pacific  department  —  both  conservative  underwriters  of  long  experience. 

THE    NATIONAL    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

The  National  Fire  Insurance  Company,  though  of  recent  origin, 
came  of  royal  lineage,  for  it  succeeded  the  Merchants  under  circum- 
stances which  gave  it  a  commanding  position  and  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness from  the  start.  The  history  of  the  two  is  intimately  connected 
and  highly  honorable  to  both.  The  Merchants  began  with  a  capital 
of  $200,000,  fully  paid  in  cash,  having  been  the  first  company  in  the 
city  to  set  the  example  and  to  repudiate  the  old  custom  of  building 
on  a  foundation  of  stock  notes,  with  a  small  installment  in  actual 
money.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  directors,  July  7,  1857,  Mark 
Howard  was  elected  president,  and  E.  Thomas  Lobdell  secretary,  a 
position  which  he  held  till  his  death,  Jan.  23,  187 1,  when  James 
Nichols,  general  agent  of  the  company,  was  unanimously  selected  for 
the  place.  Besides  paying  to  the  stockholders  dividends  at  an  aver- 
age rate  of  over  ten  per  cent,  a  year,  the  Merchants  steadily  increased 
in  strength  till,  at  the  last  annual  meeting  in  May,  187 1,  the  cash 
assets  reached  $580,270.71,  and  the  shares  readily  brought  $240  each 
in  the  market. 

In  October  came  the  Chicago  fire,  with  losses  of  $1,075,643  —  over 
five  times  the  amount  of  its  capital,  and  nearly  half  a  million  in  ex- 
cess of  its  entire  assets.  Payment  in  full  was  clearly  impossible.  In 
an  emergency  that  put  virtue  to  the  severest  test  by  suggesting  many 
fair  reasons  for  adopting  a  less  unselfish  course,  the  directors,  under 
the  lead  of  the  executive  officers,  decided  that  no  attempt  should  be 
made  to  compromise  with  the  sufferers  in  Chicago,  or  to  save  a  single 
penny  from  the  wreck.  Every  dollar  was  turned  over  to  the  policy- 
holders, to  be  distributed  pro  rata  among  creditors.  While  an  institu- 
tion of  splendid  promise  was  thus  engulphed  in  the  fiery  tempest, 
the  managers  emerged  with  a  record  many  times  more  valuable  com- 
mercially than  any  salvage  which  the  sharpest  settlements  could  have 
secured. 

Under  a  charter  granted    in    May,    1869,  but   till    then    unused,  the 


THE    NATIONAL    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  39 

parties  interested  in  the  Merchants'  proceeded  to  form  the  National 
fire  insurance  company,  deeming  it  better  to  give  up  the  old  organiz- 
ation, with  its  honorable  history  and  good  name,  than  to  contend  with 
the  complications  liable  to  arise  from  the  unpaid  balances  at  Chicago. 
Oct.  18,  1871,  ten  days  after  the  outbreak  of  the  great  fire,  the  books 
were  opened,  and  $608,000  were  subscribed  on  a  call  for  $200,000,  a 
notable  proof  both  of  the  unconquerable  resolution  of  the  community 
and  of  confidence  in  the  men  who  were  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the 
new  company.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders,  November  27, 
the  directors  of  the  Merchants,  with  few  changes,  were  made  directors 
of  the  National,  and  it  was  voted  to  increase  the  capital  to  $500,000. 
On  the  same  day  the  board  unanimously  elected  Mark  Howard 
president,  and  James  Nichols  secretary. 

Mr.  Howard,  who  passed  from  us  Jan.  24,  1887,  beloved  and 
lamented  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  was  an  influential  force  in  in- 
troducing scientific  methods  into  the  system  of  underwriting.  For 
forty  years  in  the  business  as  local  agent,  special  agent,  and  presi- 
dent, he  inspired  the  instruction  book  issued  in  1848  by  the  Protec- 
tion, where  for  the  first  time  appear  definitions  of  insurance  terms,  and 
which  covered  the  field  so  thoroughly  and  comprehensively  that  all 
subsequent  literature  pertaining  to  the  subject  has  drawn  largely  from 
its  pages.  A  man  of  strong  convictions  and  lofty  ideals,  he  never 
temporized  or  lowered  the  standard  of  duty  to  the  uses  of  expediency. 
While  it  is  generally  held  to  be  impracticable  for  ordinary  mortals, 
amid  the  complexities  of  business,  to  follow,  except  at  a  distance,  the 
stern  and  self-denying  methods  pursued  by  this  type  of  character,  all 
are  encouraged  to  high  aims  by  such  examples. 

During  the  first  eleven  months  of  business  the  National  increased 
its  assets  to  $623,000.  Then  followed  the  Boston  fire  with  losses  of 
$161,000.  To  meet  the  emergency  the  capital  was  reduced  to  $350,- 
000,  and  at  once  restored  to  the  former  figures  by  subscriptions  of 
the  shareholders.  From  that  clay  on  its  success  and  growth  have 
been  uninterrupted.  In  1878,  the  contribution  for  Boston  was  in  part 
returned  in  a  stock  dividend  of  $100,000  from  net  profits,  and  in 
1881,  the  capital  was  further  increased  to  $1,000,000  by  cash 
subscriptions. 

The    National    has    never    failed    to    pay    semi-annually    its    regular 


4<D  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    COXX. 

cash  dividend,  and,  with  a  single  exception,  has  added  each  year  to 
the  volume  of  its  assets.  Stockholders  have  received  on  an  average 
nearly  13  per  cent,  per  annum  on  the  investment,  and  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1889,  the  gross  assets  were  $2,326,581,  with  a  net  surplus  of 
$507,126. 

In  January,  1887,  James  Nichols,  secretary  of  the  National  from  its 
organization,  and  also  of  the  Merchants  before  it,  was  elected  presi- 
dent, a  sufficient  guaranty  of  the  continuance  of  the  policy  under 
which  the  institution  has  attained  eminent  success.  In  the  follow- 
ing May,  E.  G.  Richards  of  Boston,  an  experienced  underwriter,  was 
made  secretary. 

In  January,  1888,  the  National  reinsured  the  Washington  fire  and 
marine  insurance  company  of  Boston  on  all  their  business  through- 
out the  United  States,  except  in  Connecticut,  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Jersey,  Delaware,  and  Maryland  ;  established  a  western 
department  at  Chicago,  in  charge  of  Fred  S.  James  as  general  agent; 
and  reorganized  and  enlarged  the  Pacific  department,  placing  it  under 
the  management  of  George  D.  Dornin,  with  headquarters  at  San  Fran- 
cisco. The  transaction  added  to  the  books  of  the  company  a  large 
amount  of  good  business,  guarantying  a  large  and  permanent  increase 
of   premium    receipts. 

ORIENT    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

Although  the  charter  of  the  Orient  was  granted  by  the  legislature 
of  Connecticut  in  May,  1867,  the  company  did  not  organize  until 
Nov.  23,  187 1,  being  the  lineal  successor  of  the  City  fire  insurance, 
which,  with  most  of  its  contemporaries,  was  blotted  out  of  existence 
in  the  holocaust  at  Chicago.  By  the  terms  of  the  charter,  a  capital 
of  $2,000,000  was  authorized,  with  the  privilege  of  doing  business  on 
a  minimum  of  $500,000.  In  view  of  the  enormous  drafts  upon  the 
resources  of  Hartford  required  to  pay  the  losses  at  Chicago,  the  cor- 
porators thought  best  to  begin  with  half  a  million,  and  to  increase 
afterwards  as  the  growth  of  business  might  demand.  The  first  offi- 
cers were  Charles  T.  Webster,  president ;  Selden  C.  Preston,  vice- 
president  ;  and  George  W.  Lester,  secretary ;  these  gentlemen  having 
held    similar    positions    in    the     City    Fire,    whose     agency    system    the 


ORIENT    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  41 

Orient  proceeded  to  adopt.  On  its  demise,  the  City  fire  insurance 
company  distributed  its  entire  assets  among  creditors. 

January  1,  1872,  the  first  policies  were  written,  and  a  handsome 
business  was  assured  from  the  outset.  Ten  months  later  came  the 
Boston  fire,  which  took  $164,000  from  the  Orient,  a  very  heavy  blow 
to  befall  a  small  company  at  the  beginning  of  its  career.  However, 
it  met  every  obligation  by  sight  drafts,  paying  all  losses  in  full. 

In  April,  1881,  with  the  view  of  establishing  a  broader  basis  for 
future  growth,  and  providing  absolute  security  for  its  patrons,  the 
shareholders  voted  to  increase  the  capital  to  $1,000,000,  thus  round- 
ing up  the  list  of  millionaire  fire  insurance  companies  in  Hartford. 
Our  people,  who,  from  long  familiarity  with  large  figures  in  insurance, 
have  ceased  to  think  of  small  concerns  as  having  any  rightful  place 
in  the  hazards  of  the  business,  will  more  fully  appreciate  the  solidity 
of  their  own  institutions  by  recalling  the  fact,  that  outside  of  this 
city  there  are  but  eleven  American  companies  whose  capital  equals 
the  capital  of  their  youngest.  Under  the  laws  of  different  States  reg- 
ulating reserves,  surplus  accumulations  above  certain  sums  can  be 
divided  or  otherwise  disposed  of  to  suit  the  inclination  of  sharehold- 
ers, but  whether  losses  are  small  or  large,  capital  must  be  kept  unim- 
paired. Hence,  in  part,  comes  the  superior  security  offered  to  policy- 
holders by  large  institutions  like  the  Orient  in  times  of  exceptional 
disaster. 

The  presidents  of  the  Orient  have  been  Charles  T.  Webster,  Dec. 
19.  1871-May,  1874;  Selden  C.  Preston,  May,  1874-May,  1883;  John 
W.  Brooks,  May,  1883-May,  1886  ;  Charles  B.  Whiting,  since  May  5, 
1886. 

The  present  officers  are,  Charles  B,  Whiting,  president ;  James  U. 
Taintor,  secretary ;  and  Howard  W.  Cook,  assistant  secretary,  —  all 
underwriters  of  experience.  The  company  has  a  western  department 
with  headquarters  at  Chicago ;  one  on  the  Pacific  coast  with  an  office 
at  San  Francisco  ;  and  a  southwestern  department,  with  an  office  at 
Dallas,  Texas.  It  is  carefully  but  energetically  extending  its  agency 
system,  and,  though  the  youngest  in  the  Hartford  fraternity,  promises 
to  keep  step  with  its  elder  brothers  in  growth,  prosperity,  and  use- 
fulness. 


42  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

HARTFORD  COUNTY  MUTUAL  FIRE  INSURANCE  COMPANY. 

This  institution  was  incorporated  in  May,  183 1,  and  on  the  19th 
of  the  following  September,  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  State  House, 
David  Grant  was  appointed  president,  and  Elihu  Phelps  secretary 
and  treasurer.  In  less  than  a  month,  Mr.  Phelps  resigned,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Charles   Shepard. 

At  first,  the  scheme  embraced  in  its  scope  little  more  than  a 
friendly  combination  of  neighbors  for  mutual  protection  against  losses 
by  fire.  A  small  premium  was  turned  into  the  treasury  by  each 
member,  together  with  a  note  pledging  the  maker  to  a  liability  of 
twenty  fold  the  cash  payment.  It  was  the  evident  intention  of  the 
corporators  to  meet  claims  by  assessments  on  the  notes,  very  much 
as  certain  associations  now  insure  the  lives  of  the  members  by 
levying  a  tax  on  each  one,  whenever  a  death  occurs  in  the  ranks. 
The  underlying  idea  is  the  same,  except  that  the  assessments  in  the 
modern  guilds  are  generally  definite  and  uniform,  while  in  the  early 
mutuals  they  were  to    vary  with    the    amount    at    risk. 

The  Hartford  County  began  modestly,  and  after  disbursing  $12 
in  losses,  and  $179  in  contingent  expenses,  had  a  surplus  of  Si  2 
at  the  end  of  the  first  twelve  months.  For  the  next  eleven  years 
the  business  grew  slowly,  and  at  each  annual  meeting  the  books 
showed  a  small  balance  on  the  credit  side  of  the  ledger.  In  1842, 
however,  came  a  turn  in  the  tide.  Losses  mounted  up  to  $3,269.14. 
and  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year,  in  December,  the  directors  were 
confronted  with  a  deficit  of  $362.11.  Matters  seemingly  trivial  have 
often  proved  to  be  pivots  on  which  the  fate,  not  only  of  nations, 
but  of  civilization  itself,  has  turned.  So  of  this  deficit.  It  pro- 
voked earnest  thought  and  much  discussion.  Some  advocated  an 
assessment.  Mr.  Shepard  took  ground  in  favor  of  borrowing  the 
money  and  raising  the  cash  rates  to  a  remunerative  basis.  Already 
the  theory  which  prevailed  at  the  outset,  and  which  in  many  change- 
ful forms  has  been  revived  and  discarded  since,  had  proved  its  insuf- 
ficiency. The  sensible  views  of  the  secretary  were  approved,  and  a 
note  for  the  arrearages,  presumably  indorsed  by  the  officers,  was  dis- 
counted at  the  Hartford  Bank.  From  current  receipts  the  obligation 
was  soon  discharged,  and  the  company  has  never  been  compelled 
by  reverses  to  pass  through  a  similar  experience  since. 


HARTFORD    COUNTY    MUTUAL    FIRE    rNSURANCE    COMPANY.         43 

September,  1844,  Mr.  Shepard  was  made  president,  James  Ward 
treasurer,  and  R.  Augustus  Erving  secretary.  At  the  annual  meeting, 
in  justification  of  the  policy  advocated  by  him  in  1842,  Mr.  Shepard 
was  able  to  point  to  a  cash  balance  of  §1,995. 

Oct.  8,  1853,  Mr.  Erving  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  D.  D. 
Erving,  having  resigned  to  accept  the  position  of  secretary  of  lega- 
tion under  Ex-Governor  Thomas  H.  Seymour,  then  recently  appointed 
minister  to  the  court  of  St.  Petersburg.  Having  spent  a  number  of 
years  in  Russia,  he  was  lost  with  the  steamer  Pacific  on  the  voyage 
home.  At  the  death  of  Mr.  Shepard,  D.  D.  Erving  became  president, 
July  23,    1867,   and  Win.   A.   Erving  secretary. 

On  the  morning  after  the  great  Chicago  fire,  residents  of  the  city 
did  not  know  whether  the  policies  on  their  property  issued  by  stock 
companies  were  worthless  or  not.  Of  the  solvency  of  the  Hartford 
County  Mutual  they  were  certain,  for  it  did  no  business  beyond  the 
boundaries  of  Connecticut.  Many  came  in  at  that  time  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  protection  it  offered,  and  have  since  remained  upon 
its  books. 

Having  accumulated  over  $200,000  in  solid  assets,  the  company 
voted,  in  1879,  to  reduce  the  premium  lien,  on  which  assessments 
could  be  levied,  ninety  per  cent.,  making  it  only  twice  the  amount  of 
the  cash  payment,  and  thus  practically  eliminating  the  element  of 
contingent  liability.  Since  1880.  by  virtue  of  additional  powers  then 
granted  by  the  legislature,  the  company  has  inserted  in  all  policies, 
without  extra  charge,  a  clause  insuring  against  damage  by  lightning, 
whether  fire  ensues  or  not.  On  the  first  of  January,  1889,  it  had  in 
force,  all  in  Connecticut,  14.752  policies,  with  S2 3. 2 46. 5 04. 7 5  at  risk, 
and  with  S407.821.87  of  well-invested  assets  to  protect  the  liability. 
It  had  then  distributed  to  the  people  of  the  State  S609.972.66  in  pay- 
ment of  losses.  The  rates  are  low.  and  the  amounts  written  generally 
small,  the  premiums  averaging  from  seven  to  eight  dollars. 

D.  I).  Erving  died  August,  1873.  Later  presidents  have  been, 
Julius  Catlin,  September,  1873,  to  September,  1874:  Walter  H.  Havens, 
September,  1874-  "76:  James  B.  Shultas,  September.  iS76-'8o:  YVm. 
E.  Sugden,  since  1880.  Present  officers.  Win.  E.  Sugden,  president; 
James  L.  Howard,  vice-president;  and  William  A.  Erving,  secretary. 
Office,  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Asylum  Streets. 


44  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

STATE    MUTUAL    FIRE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

This  company  commenced  business  in  October,  1867.  On  Jan.  1, 
1889,  its  gross  assets,  exclusive  of  premium  notes,  amounted  to 
$46,831.38. 

Ralph  Gillett,  president;    Isaac  Cross,  Jr.,  secretary. 

FACTS    AND    INFERENCES. 

From  the  story  of  the  marvelous  growth  of  fire  insurance  in  Hart- 
ford, one  might  hastily  infer  that  the  prosperity  of  the  companies  has 
been  secured  by  the  imposition  of  excessive  rates.  Such  conclusion 
is  wholly  unwarranted.  During  the  long  period  of  infancy,  both  the 
Hartford  and  the  yEtna  were  several  times  brought  to  the  edge  of 
the  grave  by  unexpected  calamities,  and  were  saved  only  by  the  in- 
domitable courage  of  officers  and  owners.  After  each  of  the  great 
fires  prior  to  187 1,  more  careful  methods  were  introduced,  till  at 
length  the  belief  became  common  that  no  strong  and  conservative 
company  could  be  dangerously  involved  in  any  single  disaster.  Yet, 
within  the  period  of  thirteen  months  and  a  day,  the  Hartford,  ALtna, 
and  Phoenix  were  called  upon  to  contribute  to  policy-holders  in 
Chicago  and  Boston  $9,162,765.73,  or  over  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
nine  per  cent,  on  an  aggregate  capital  of  $4,600,000.  Payments  by 
other  local  companies  swell  the  above  figures  to  a  total  of  over  twelve 
millions  of  dollars  —  an  almost  incredible  sum  to  be  taken  from  a 
town  of  thirty-eight  thousand  inhabitants  in  so  short  a  time,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  ordinary  losses  incident  to  the  business.  Pecuniarily  Hart- 
ford suffered  more  than  either  Chicago  or  Boston,  though  the  enor- 
mous drafts  upon  her  accumulations  were  in  part  made  good  by 
exceptional  profits  during  the  next  few  years. 

Some  stockholders  in  the  Hartford,  Connecticut,  National,  and 
Orient,  may  be  surprised  to  learn  that  their  dividends  are  drawn  ex- 
clusively from  the  income  of  assets,  and  that  whatever  profits  accrue 
from  premium  receipts  go  to  swell  the  reserves,  and  thus  equip  the 
companies  to  meet  extraordinary  disasters,  liable  at  any  time  to  occur. 
The  Connecticut  and  Orient  keep  the  dividends  they  pay  consider- 
ably within  the  dividends  they  receive,  while  the  yEtna  and  Phcenix, 
with  their  large  capitalization,  draw  to  a  small  extent  on  current 
profits.     With   these  exceptions,  all    moneys  paid  by  policy-holders    are 


BEGINNINGS    OF    LIFE    INSURANCE    IN    HARTFORD.  45 

either  returned  in  the  settlement  of  losses,  or,  after  defraying  the 
expenses  of  management,  go  to  strengthen  the  security  of  the  in- 
sured. 

Statistics  prove  the  need  of  strength.  Since  i860,  six  hundred 
and  forty-five  American  companies,  representing  over  eighty-nine  mil- 
lions of  capital,  have  either  failed  or  retired  from  the  field.  Although, 
as  corporations,  supposed  to  be  endowed  with  the  attributes  of  im- 
mortality, yet  most  of  them,  like  man  born  of  woman,  are  "of  few 
days  and  full  of  trouble."  Survivors  continue  to  live  only  by  strict 
adherence  to  scientific  methods.  Any  material  and  persistent  devia- 
tion on  the  wrong  side  of  the  line  must,  in  time,  lead  even  the  larg- 
est to  inevitable  bankruptcy. 

In  the  modern  industrial  system,  becoming  continually  more  com- 
plex and  interdependent,  insurance  is  as  essential  to  the  continuance 
of  life,  as  the  heart  or  lungs  in  the  animal  economy.  The  protection 
thus  afforded  is  indispensable  in  enabling  the  manufacturer,  the  mer- 
chant, the  farmer,  the  owners  of  the  countless  buildings  which  make 
our  cities,  to  borrow  on  their  properties.  The  policies  issued  by  the 
institutions  of  Hartford  enter  as  a  vital  element  into  one  billion  of 
actual  or  potential  credits. 

Unskilled  hands  should  be  commanded  by  enlightened  public  sen- 
timent to  leave  the  delicate  mechanism  severely  alone.  The  instinct 
of  self-preservation  should  lead  the  public  to  condemn  with  united 
voice  the  ever-recurring  attempts  of  crude  legislators,  and  still  worse, 
of  the  freebooters  of  the  lobby,  to  engraft  pernicious  sophisms  upon 
the  laws  which  regulate  the  business.  As  proved  by  experience,  com- 
petition tends  to  reduce  rates  to  the  line  of  danger  or  below,  while 
the  value  of  a  good  name  guarantees  a  full  measure  of  indemnity  to 
the   insured. 


BEGINNINGS  OF  LIFE  INSURANCE  IN  HARTFORD. 

James  L.  Howard  was  the  first  person  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
people  of  Hartford,  at  least  in  any  effective  way,  to  the  claims  of 
life  insurance.  In  February,  1846,  he  took  out  policy  No.  1079  in 
the  Mutual  Benefit  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  same  year  accepted  an 
agency  from  the  company.     He  was  soon  successful  in  impressing  his 


46  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

views  upon  a  number  of  influential  citizens,  whose  example  in  insui- 
ing,  others  followed. 

In  the  counting-room  of  Governor  Howard  began  the  discussions 
which  soon  culminated  in  the  organization  of  the  Connecticut  Mutual 
Life,  Guy  R.  Phelps,  the  leading  spirit  in  the  movement,  having 
been  so  impressed  by  the  merits  of  the  system  as  to  take  a  policy 
from  Mr.  Howard.  Elisha  B.  Pratt,  another  of  the  founders,  was 
not  only  brought  to  share  the  same  view,  but  he  was  probably  the 
first  to  suggest  the  expediency  of  forming  a  local  company  and  thus 
keeping  the  premiums  at  home. 

It  was  a  new  subject,  and  the  vigorous  presentation  of  the 
affirmative  side  provoked  a  good  deal  of  curious  opposition.  Some 
good  people  argued  that  the  scheme  was  irreligious  in  substituting 
reliance  upon  human  instrumentalities  for  trust  in  providence.  A 
Baptist  elder,  noted  for  the  boldness  of  his  pulpit  illustrations,  in 
a  sermon  at  an  annual  State  convention,  resolved  to  crush  the 
pernicious  novelty  at  a  blow.  Rising  to  a  climax  in  denunciation, 
he  said :  "  Suppose  that  Jesus,  on  His  way  to  the  Jordan,  had  met 
John  among  the  foot-hills,  and  to  the  question  'whither  goest  thou?' 
John  had  answered,  'behold  all  these  years  have  I  trusted  in  the 
God  of  Israel,  and  have  been  sorely  pressed  by  many  troubles. 
Wist  thou  not  that  I  go  up  to  Jerusalem  to  get  my  life  insured  ?  ' 
Would  the  church,  my  hearers,  have  outlived  the  few  and  feeble 
days  of  infancy  had  treachery  so  foul  been  permitted  to  occur 
and  to  pass  unrebuked  ?  If  lack  of  faith  was  a  sin  then,  it  is  a 
sin  now.  Avoid  the  snares  of  a  perverse  generation,  and  say  to 
the    tempter,    '  get   thee   behind   me,    Satan.' " 

Prejudice  yielded  surely,  if  slowly,  before  enlightened  discussion, 
and  the  act  which  the  good  elder  condemned  as  a  sin  is  now 
regarded    in    many  cases    as    a    duty. 

THE    CONNECTICUT    MUTUAL    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

The  Connecticut  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  is  one  of  the 
original  five  whose  history  goes  back  to  the  beginning  of  the  business 
in  this  country.  Chartered  in  May,  1846,  it  was  organized,  and  issued 
its  first  policies,  in  December  of  the  same  year,  with  Eliphalet  A. 
Bulkeley   as   president,   and   Guy  R.   Phelps    as    secretary.      Before   the 


THE    CONNECTICUT    MUTUAL    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY  S    BUILDING. 


48  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    COXX. 

subject  had  attracted  much  attention,  and  while  its  true  theory  was 
very  imperfectly  understood,  Dr.  Phelps,  the  chief  promoter  of  the 
enterprise,  from  personal  inquiry  and  reflection,  came  to  appreciate 
the  need  of  insurance,  and  to  foresee  its  importance  and  value  to  the 
people  of  this  country.  To  his  good  sense  and  judgment  it  is  due 
that  this  company,  intended  to  meet  a  great  public  necessity,  was 
organized  on  a  purely  mutual  basis,  the  policy-holders  owning  all  the 
property,  getting  the  benefit  of  all  savings,  and  managing  affairs  them- 
selves through  a  body  of  directors  chosen  annually  from  their  own 
number.  The  principle  of  strict  mutuality  and  equity  among  the 
members  has  controlled  from  the  beginning,  and  on  suitable  occasions 
the  company  has  not  failed  to  manifest  its  hostility  to  schemes  for 
the  unfair  distribution  of  benefits,  or  which  are  not  plainly  grounded 
upon  justice.  In  seasons  of  intense  competition  the  anxiety  for  new 
business,  which  in  many  quarters  has  hatched  in  fertile  brains  broods 
of  plans  that  appeal  to  selfish  expectations  of  superior  advantages  to 
be  gained  through  the  weakness  or  misfortune  of  associates,  rather 
than  to  principles  of  equity,  has  never  for  an  instant  exerted  the 
slightest  influence  in  turning  the  managers  from  their  course.  Up- 
right aims,  pursued  with  simple  means  and  rigid  economy,  have  char- 
acterized the  policy  of  the  management. 

Dr.  Phelps  was  secretary  until  1866,  and  then  president  until  his 
death,  in  1869.  James  Goodwin,  a  man  of  rare  financial  abilities, 
succeeded  Mr.  Bulkeley  as  president  in  January,  1848,  and,  with  an 
interruption  of  three  years,  from  1866  to  1869,  during  the  incumbency 
of  Dr.  Phelps,  held  the  position  until  his  death,  in  1878.  Jacob  L. 
Greene  was  chosen  secretary  in  187 1,  and  president  in  1878,  and  still 
fills  the  office.  To  the  great  abilities,  energy,  and  self-devotion  of 
these  three  leaders  the  remarkable  success  of  the  company  has  been 
chiefly  due. 

Starting  without  funds,  save  a  guarantee  of  $50,000  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  insured  during  the  first  few  years,  the  company  had  accu- 
mulated at  the  end  of  1858  assets  amounting  to  $3,000,523.47,  although 
meanwhile  it  had  distributed  among  policy-holders  $3,957,824.57.  At 
the  end  of  1868  it  had  increased  its  assets  to  $23,500,008.47,  and  its 
payments  to  policy-holders  to  $15,063,666.53.  In  1S78  its  assets 
reached  $48,179,128.34,  and  payments  to  policy-holders  $76,014,692.11. 


THE    CONNECTICUT    MUTUAL    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  49 

In  the  forty-three  yfars  ended  Dec.  31,   1S88,  it  had  — 

Received,  for  premiums, $155,424,036.97 

from  interest  and  rent, 58,426,794.34 

balance  profit  and  loss, 685,110  is 

$214,535,94176 

Disbursed  to  policy-holders, $134,162,485.15 

for  expenses, 18,065.501.57 

for  taxes, 6,455,055.17 

balance  net  assets, 55.852,899.87 

$2i4,535,94i-76    ■ 

The  average  expense  of  creating,  handling,  and  distributing  this 
great  business  has  been  but  8.4  per  cent.,  a  degree  of  economy 
hitherto  unattained  by  any  other  company,  and  still  less  likely  to  be 
reached  in  the  future.  It  is  less  than  half  the  ratio  of  American, 
and  but  little  more  than  one-half  the  ratio  of  English  and  Continental 
institutions,  despite  their  traditional  conservatism.  With  the  tendency 
to  the  centralization  of  the  business  in  large  and  wealthy  cities,  where 
the  cost  of  management  is  in  many  ways  enhanced,  this  item  will 
continue  to  grow  in  relative  importance.  How  much  has  been  re- 
ceived, how  much  judiciously  invested,  and  how  much  paid  out  for 
conducting  operations,  are  the  most  vital  questions  involved  in  the 
practice  of  life-underwriting.  Moneys  held  by  life  insurance  compa- 
nies are  trust  funds,  and  should  not,  under  any  circumstances,  be  sub- 
jected to  any  expense  beyond  a  fair  cost  for  care  and  investment, 
and  a  proper  outlay  for  maintaining  a  suitable  volume  of  business  in 
force. 

The  Connecticut  Mutual  is  peculiarly  strong,  not  only  in  solid 
assets,  but  in  a  conservatism  of  policy,  the  wisdom  of  which  will  be- 
come more  and  more  apparent  with  the  lapse  of  time.  Its  premiums 
and  reserves  upon  risks  taken  since  April,  1882,  are  computed  on 
the  assumption  that  before  the  liabilities  mature,  safe  investments  can- 
not with  certainty  be  depended  upon  to  yield  a  yearly  net  income  of 
over  three  per  cent,  instead  of  four  per  cent.,  the  basis  heretofore 
required  in  prudent  legislation  and  estimates.  When  taken,  the  step, 
quite  at  variance  with  the  prevalent  tendency,  provoked,  in  certain 
quarters,  acrid  criticism,  but  its  justification  is  coming  more  quickly, 
perhaps,  than  its  advocates  foresaw.  Within  a  decade,  able  econo- 
mists have  written  elaborate  papers  to  prove  that  for  a  generation. 
4 


50  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

at  least  the  annual  rate  of  interest  in  the  United  States,  except  for  short 
and  transient  intervals,  could  not  fall  below  six  per  cent.  The  argu- 
ments were  based  upon  the  extent  of  our  undeveloped  and  partially 
developed  territory,  the  tireless  energy  of  our  people,  and  the  enor- 
mous sum  certain  to  be  required  both  for  the  enlargement  of  old 
and  the  initiation  of  new  enterprises.  In  reality,  capital  increases- 
much  more  rapidly  than  the  demand  for  it  in  safe  investments.  For 
many  months  at  a  time,  call  loans  on  the  best  security  have  ranged 
from  one  per  cent,  to  a  fraction  above,  the  best  State  bonds  yield 
barely  three  per  cent.,  and  government  bonds  still  less.  Nothing 
but  a  long  and  destructive  war  can  arrest  even  temporarily  the 
downward  movement.  In  view  of  the  further  fact  that  life  insur- 
ance contracts,  in  many  instances,  will  run  forty,  fifty,  or  sixty  years, 
and  that  every  one  kept  in  force  must  ultimately  be  paid  in  full  on 
penalty  of  bankruptcy,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  all  similar  institutions, 
to  meet  remote  obligations,  must  follow  in  practice,  if  not  avowedly, 
the   example   first  set   by  the  Connecticut  Mutual. 

On  the  highly  improbable  assumption,  that  the  destruction  of 
capital  in  wasteful  wars  should  restore,  for  a  long  period,  former 
rates  of  interest,  and  thus  postpone  the  necessity  for  revising  the 
tables  of  cost,  patrons  of  the  company  would  reap  the  entire  benefit 
in  the  way  of  larger  dividends.  In  case  the  accumulation  of  wealth, 
with  the  attendant  decrease  of  income,  goes  on  without  interruption, 
they  are  fully  protected,  and  in  case  the  natural  order  of  econom- 
ical development  is  suspended  or  temporarily  reversed,  they  lose 
nothing  by  the  changes  introduced  in  preparation  for  the  seemingly 
inevitable. 

The  profits  of  the  Connecticut  Mutual  inure  wholly  to  the  ben- 
efit   of    the    insured. 

It  has  no  special  class  of  policy-holders  who  are  to  get  the  divi- 
dends   earned    and   forfeited   by   others. 

The  surplus  earned  is  returned  each  year  to  those  who  have 
contributed  it,  and  is  not  held  to  be  divided  only  at  the  end  of 
a   period  of  years,  among  the  survivors,   as  a  speculation. 

Every  policy-holder  is  therefore  sure  of  getting  his  insurance  at 
its  actual   cost,  year  by  year. 

It  selects  its  risks  with  great  care,   and  in  the  healthy  sections  of 


THE    CONNECTICUT    MUTUAL    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  5 1 

our  own  country  only.  Its  actual  losses  by  death  have  been  only 
eighty-five  per   cent,    of  those   indicated  by   the   tables    of   mortality. 

It  does  not  increase  its  commissions  on  new  business  to  enable 
agents  to  compete  by  "throwing  off."  On  the  contrary,  it  has  on 
certain  lines  reduced  commissions.  It  seeks  new  business  only  at 
such  a  cost  as  will  enable  it  to  continue  to  give  insurance  at  as  low 
figures  as  heretofore,  so  far  as  the  fall  in  the  rate  of  interest  will 
permit. 

It  maintains  its  old-time  economy  and  carefulness  in  all  things, 
elements  that  will  affect  future  dividends  and  the  cost  of  insurance 
more   and  more,  as  the  income  from   investments  gravitates  downward. 

In  the  management  of  assets,  critical  attention  is  given  both  to 
security  and  productiveness.  It  does  complete  equity,  wronging  no 
member  and  favoring  no  member  at  the  expense  of  others.  Its  con- 
servative basis  for  future  solvency  —  the  three  per  cent,  reserve  — 
benefits  members  who  are  unfortunately  compelled  to  withdraw,  by 
adding  proportionately  to  the  amount  of  paid-up  insurance,  or  to  the 
cash  sum  paid  on  surrender. 

Each  policy  now  issued  provides,  that  in  case  of  lapse  after  two 
or  three  premium's  are  received,  it  is  fully  paid  up  for  an  amount 
stated  upon  the  policy  itself,  and  which  is  the  full  amount  the  entire 
reserve  will  buy,  less  a  small  surrender  charge. 

Each  policy  now  issued  may  be  surrendered  at  the  end  of  ten 
years,  or  five-year  periods  thereafter,  for  a  cash  sum  stated  in  a  table 
printed  thereon,  thus  giving  to  every  member,  at  convenient  intervals, 
the  option  of  withdrawing  from  the  associaticn  and  taking  his  share 
of  the    reserve. 

Each  member  will  get  all  he  pays  for,  and  nothing  of  what  any 
other  member  pays  for.  No  one  is  made  to  lose  because  he  cannot 
continue   paying,   and   no  one  else  gains   at  his  expense. 

Incidentally,  much  has  been  accomplished  by  the  company  in 
working  out  solutions  of  the  various  problems  of  life  underwriting  in 
this  country,  and  in  providing  a  body  of  knowledge  and  a  number  of 
trained  men  for  the  benefit  of  newer  organizations,  whereby  its  influ- 
ence has  been  diffused  and  will  be  perpetuated.  When  the  history 
of  life   insurance  in  America  is    fully  written,    many  of    the   most    im- 


52 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


portant     and   instructive  facts     will    be    supplied    from    the  records    of 
the   Connecticut    Mutual. 

The  present  officers  are  Jacob  L.  Greene,  president;  John  M. 
Taylor,  vice-president  ;  William  G.  Abbot,  secretary  ;  Daniel  H.  Wells, 
actuary;  and  George   R.    Shepherd,  M.D.,   consulting   physician. 


THE    /ETNA    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

The  year  after  its  incorporation,  in  1819,  the  ./Etna  (Fire)  Insurance 
Company    obtained    an    amendment    to    its    charter,    authorizing    it    to 

grant     annuities,    upon     an     addi- 


THE    /ETNA    LIFE'S    BUILDING. 


tional  capital  not  exceeding  $150,- 
000,  to  be  held  as  a  separate 
guaranty  for  the  liabilities  arising 
under  the  business.  The  privi- 
lege was  never  exercised.  In 
1850,  by  a  second  amendment, 
the  ancillary  company  was  em- 
powered to  grant  insurance  upon 
lives,  and  thirty  years  after  the 
inception  of  the  original  plan, 
organized  as  the  ^Etna  Insurance 
Company  Annuity  Fund.  Rights 
to  subscribe  were  distributed  among  the  owners  of  the  parent  com- 
pany in  proportion  to  their  holdings.  Officers  of  both  were  the  same, 
certain  directors,  with  Eliphalet  A.  Bulkeley  as  chairman,  having  been 
delegated  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  new  department. 

After  a  brief  experience,  it  was  thought  best  that  the  control  of 
the  two  institutions  should  be  made  separate  and  distinct,  and  accord- 
ingly, in  1853,  by  still  another  amendment  to  the  charter,  the  child 
was  launched  on  its  independent  career  under  the  name  of  the  /Etna 
Life  Insurance  Company.  E.  A.  Bulkeley  was  chosen  president,  and 
John  W.  Seymour  secretary.  In  1858,  Thomas  O.  Enders,  who  had 
been  employed  in  the  home  office  since   1854,  became  secretary. 

During  the  first  decade  of  its  existence  the  company  developed 
slowly.  It  will  be  remembered  that  a  period  of  long,  and  at  times 
severe,  financial   depression   preceded  the   war  —  a  condition  that  bore 


THE    .-ETNA    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  53 

heavily  upon  new  enterprises,  and  brought  to  both  new  and  old  wide- 
spread mortality. 

Till  186 1,  all  contracts  for  insurance  made  by  the  ^Etna  Life  were 
written  on  the  proprietary  plan.  It  then  began  to  issue  participating 
policies,  and  established  a  mutual  department  under  the  same  control, 
but  with  entirely  distinct  books,  accounts,  and  investments.  Since 
then  applicants  have  had  their  choice  between  the  two  methods.  Till 
1868,  patrons  on  the  mutual  side  were  allowed  to  pay  a  part  of  the 
premiums  by  note,  a  system  once  quite  popular,  but  under  plans  then 
matured  all  subsequent  contracts  have  required  payments  in  cash. 

One  of  the  first  effects  of  the  war  was  to  aggravate  the  depression 
previously  existing.  As  it  went  on,  and  issues  of  paper  currency 
stimulated  speculation  and  extravagance  not  less  than  legitimate  busi- 
ness, the  life  companies  already  in  the  field  soon  began  to  profit  from 
the  changed  conditions.  Large  numbers  of  men  rushed  into  hazard- 
ous ventures,  and  amid  the  uncertainties  of  their  private  affairs,  made 
provision  for  their  families  by  taking  out  heavy  lines  of  insurance. 
Others  of  more  prudent  habits  were  influenced  by  the  example  to  in- 
vestigate the  merits  of  the  system,  and  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
same  protection.  Inquiry  could  not  fail  to  satisfy  the  mind  that  the 
principles  were  sound,  or  that  any  well  managed  company  must  always 
be  in  a  position  to  meet  maturing  obligations.  The  sudden  popularity 
of  life  insurance  was  due  partly  to  more  urgent  need  of  its  benefits, 
and  partly  to  more  thorough  comprehension  of  the  subject. 

Nowhere  is  the  greatness  of  the  change  in  the  attitude  of  the 
public  toward  life  insurance  more  clearly  reflected  than  in  the  records 
of  the  ^tna.  In  1863,  thirteen  years  from  the  date  of  organization, 
its  assets  amounted  to  $310,492.  In  1866,  they  had  risen  to  $2,036,- 
823.  The  impetus  then  given  to  the  development  of  the  company 
was  stimulated  and  multiplied  by  the  energy  of  the  management.  Its 
subsequent  growth  in  resources  and  surplus,  in  reputation  and  popu- 
larity, has  never  for  an  instant  been  checked  by  adversities  of  any 
nature,  or  troubles  from  any  quarter.  It  has  been  singularly  fortu- 
nate, too,  in  avoiding  the  errors  of  judgment  which  intelligence  and 
prudence  may,  without  discredit,  be  expected  to  make  under  the  law 
of  averages.  In  1868,  its  assets  had  increased  to  $7,538,612;  in  1878, 
to  $24,141,125;   in   1888,  to  $32,620,676. 


54  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

On  January  i,  1889,  it  had  67,749  policies  in  force,  insuring 
$102,904,303.44.  It  had  received  from  all  sources,  $116,980,144.41. 
It  had  paid  for  claims  by  death  and  endowments,  $37,106,280.60, 
and  in  dividends  to  policy-holders  and  surrender  values,  $30,135,848.- 
21.  Its  assets  reached  $33,819,034.97,  and  its  surplus,  as  regards 
policy-holders,  to  $5,566,055.24,  on  the  basis  of  4  per  cent,  reserve, 
and  to  $7,325,000  on  a  4^  per  cent,  basis. 

Success  far  transcending  the  dreams  of  the  founders,  and  on  the 
whole  perhaps  unequaled  in  the  records  of  life  insurance,  either  in 
Europe  or  America,  is  easily  explained  in  the  light  of  the  facts. 
One  of  the  postulates  of  the  business  demands  that  investments  shall 
yield  an  annual  income  of  four  per  cent.,  the  excess  being  available 
either  for  immediate  distribution  among  the  insured,  or  for  building 
up  a  fund  held  in  reserve  to  meet  claims  maturing  many  years  hence, 
when  the  rate  of  interest  on  approved  security  will  certainly  fall  be- 
low that  figure.  The  ^Etna  Life  was  a  pioneer  in  loaning  to  western 
farmers,  having  entered  the  field  under  highly  favorable  conditions. 
At  the  time  when  its  treasury  began  to  be  distended  by  the  volume 
of  inflowing  premiums,  the  Illinois  Central  railway  had  a  large  num- 
ber of  outstanding  contracts  with  settlers  on  their  lands,  agreeing  to 
convey  titles  on  payment  of  the  purchase  money.  Both  sides  desired 
the  completion  of  the  contracts.  At  this  juncture  the  ^Etna  Life 
came  forward  and  furnished  the  needful  funds,  taking  mortgages  on 
the  farms  as  security.  All  the  early  loans  bore  interest  at  ten  per 
cent.  The  arrangement  proved  highly  advantageous  to  both  lender 
and  borrower.  The  fertility  of  the  soil  attracted  heavy  immigration, 
with  consequent  enhancement  in  the  value  of  the  properties.  While 
the  company  had  abundant  reason  to  be  satisfied,  thousands  of  farm- 
ers rose  from  poverty  to  wealth  by  the  aid  thus  afforded  them.  As 
the  region  grew  rich,  and  the  loans  were  paid  off,  the  company 
pushed  westward  into  Iowa,  repeating  the  process  on  the  same  terms. 
Employing  only  trained  and  faithful  agents  it  seldom  met  with  de- 
faults, and  when  compelled  to  foreclose  generally  succeeded,  by 
patience,  in  drawing  a  profit  from  the  transaction.  The  perils  of 
growing  competition  were  met  by  increase  of  carefulness,  one  of  the 
rules  being  to  loan,  in  no  case,  in  excess  of  the  value  assessed  for 
taxation.     At    present    the  ^Etna    Life  has  about    $15,000,000    invested 


THE    PHCENIX    MUTUAL    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  55 

in  farm  mortgages,  averaging  about  $1,500  each,  and  $20,000,000 
more  have  run  through  their  term  and  been  paid  at  maturity.  On 
the  small  proportion  of  foreclosures  the  books  show  a  balance  on 
the  credit  side. 

While  loanable  funds  were  much  less  abundant  than  now  the 
./Etna  Life  also  invested  largely  in  the  bonds  of  prosperous  cities  at 
the  west,  bearing  7  and  7I3<J  per  cent,  interest.  On  transactions  in- 
volving many  millions  the  losses  were  few  and  small.  The  surplus 
annually  accruing  from  investments  of  extraordinary  productiveness 
enabled  the  company  to  return  generous  dividends  to  the  participat- 
ing policy-holders,  which  in  turn  stimulated  growth  in  new  business, 
and  added  to  the  tide  of  inrolling  premiums. 

In  economy  of  management  the  ^Etna  Life  ranks  with  the  first 
three  or  four  on  the  list  of  American  companies.  With  customary 
good  fortune  it  lately  acquired  for  $231,000  the  commodious  and  ele- 
gant building  erected  by  the  Charter  Oak  Life,  at  a  cost  of  $850,000, 
and  valued  by  the  special  legislative  commission  at  $600,000.  The 
home  offices  were  transferred  to  the  new  quarters  in  the  summer 
of   1888. 

The  present  cash  capital  is  $1,250,000.  The  marvelous  growth  of 
the  /Etna  Life  cannot  be  repeated  in  the  future  by  any  similar 
organization,  because  the  conditions  which  rendered  the  process  pos- 
sible have  passed,   never  to  return. 

At  the  death  of  Judge  Bulkeley,  in  1872,  Thomas  O.  Enders  be- 
came president,  and  at  his  retirement,  in  1879,  was  succeeded  by 
Morgan  G.  Bulkeley,  son  of  the  founder,  and  now  Governor  of  Con- 
necticut. The  other  executive  officers  are,  J.  C.  Webster,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  J.  L.  English,  secretary ;  H.  W.  St.  John,  actuary,  and  Gurdon 
W.  Russell,  M.D.,  consulting  physician. 

THE  PHCENIX  MUTUAL  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY. 
Proceeding  on  the  theory  that  total  abstainers  from  the  use  of 
alcoholic  drinks  .could  safely  be  insured  at  lower  rates  than  miscella- 
neous risks  accepted  without  close  regard  to  personal  habits,  a  num- 
ber of  men,  connected  for  the  most  part  with  the  temperance  reform, 
organized,  in  1S51,  the  American  Temperance  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany.    Among  the   incorporators  were,    Barzillai    Hudson,   a  prominent 


56  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

leader  in  the  crusade  against  alcohol;  Benjamin  E.  Hale,  editor  of 
the  "Fountain"  a  cold-water  sheet;  Thomas  S.  Williams,  ex-chief 
justice  of  the  Connecticut  Supreme  Court ;  Francis  Gillette,  a  noted 
abolitionist  in  the  formative  period  of  the  party,  and  for  a  year  in 
the  United  States  Senate ;  and  others  of  similar  stamp.  Moved  by 
strong  convictions  they  gladly  accepted  an  opportunity  to  subject 
their  beliefs  to  a  practical  and  perhaps  decisive  test.  Accordingly, 
tables  were  prepared  graduating  the  cost  of  insurance  about  ten  per 
cent,  below  the  current  rates,  and  the  issue  of  policies  began.  Had 
the  scheme  met  with  popular  favor  perhaps  the  correctness  of  the 
theory  would  have  been  demonstrated.  However,  persons  interested 
in  the  cause  of  temperance  did  not  hasten  to  seize  the  privilege,  and 
others  did  not  care  to  sign  a  pledge  of  perpetual  abstinence  in  con- 
sideration of  the  discount.  Solicitors  found  the  restrictions  placed 
upon  the  freedom  of  the  individual  an  ever-present  obstacle,  blocking 
the  persuasive  force  of  their  eloquence.  Satisfied  after  a  fair  trial 
that,  however  correct  the  principle  might  be,  the  attempted  application 
of  it  ran  counter  to  the  inclinations  of  human  nature,  the  managers 
abandoned  the  temperance  feature  in  1861,  conformed  the  rates  and 
contracts  to  the  common  practice,  and  with  legislative  permission 
changed  the  name  to  the  Phoenix  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company. 

Many  of  the  risks  taken  under  the  original  plan  still  remain  on 
the  books,  and  as  a  whole,  have  perhaps  justified  the  opinions  of  the 
founders  in  regard  to  the  greater  longevity  of  those  who  entirely 
avoid  spirituous  drinks. 

B.  Hudson  was  the  first  president ;  Tertius  Wadsworth,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  and  Benjamin  E.  Hale,  secretary.  At  the  end  of  two  years 
Mr.  Hudson  was  succeeded  by  Edson  Fessenden,  who  retired  in  1875, 
and  was  followed  by  Aaron  C.  Goodman,  the  present  incumbent.  In 
1875,  Jonathan  B.  Bunce  became  vice-president,  and  John  M.  Hol- 
combe,  secretary,  both  still  filling  those  positions. 

After  the  abandonment  of  the  restrictive  plan,  which  confined  its 
efforts  to  a  limited  class,  the  company  extended  its  operations  with 
vigor.  At  one  time  it  did  a  large  business  in  the  Southern  States, 
but  withdrew  after  a  trial  of  about  six  years,  having  learned  that  the 
climate  and  conditions  of  life  caused  a  higher  rate  of  mortality. 

Since  its  organization  the  company  has  received  in  premiums  from 


THE    CONNECTICUT    GENERAL    LIFE    INSURANCE    COMPANY.         57 

its  policy-holders  $36,104,153.25.  It  has  paid  to  beneficiaries  on 
account  of  deceased  policy-holders  $13,231,703.96,  and  in  matured 
endowments  $2,499,099.96.  In  addition  it  has  disbursed  to  the  in- 
sured in  dividends,  surrender  values,  etc.,  $12,508,050.43,  making  a  total 
of  $28,238,854.35  returned  to  its  patrons  or  their  heirs.  It  now  has 
$10,587,353.45  in  assets  held  for  the  protection  of  its  outstanding 
policies.  A  large  portion  of  these  funds,  for  more  than  twenty-five 
years,  have  been  loaned  in  various  parts  of  the  west,  materially  aiding 
in  the  development  of  the  country,  and  yielding  also  a  remunerative 
income.  In  return  for  its  charter  and  such  protection  as  the  laws  of 
the  commonwealth  are  supposed  to  afford,  it  has  paid  in  taxes  to 
the  treasury  of  Connecticut  the  sum  of  $689,029.47  —  a  handsome 
requital,  certainly,  for  favors  received. 

The  Phoenix  Mutual  is  one  of  the  solid  and  enduring  institutions 
that  have  given  to  Hartford  its  reputation  as  the  center  of  safe 
insurance. 

THE  CONNECTICUT  GENERAL  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY. 

The  youngest  life  insurance  company  in  the  city,  the  Connecticut 
General,  entered  a  field  already  crowded,  not  as  a  competitor  of 
older  institutions,  but  with  the  view  of  selecting  at  adequate  rates 
from  the  risks  which  others  rejected.  Dr.  Phelps,  father  of  the  Con- 
necticut Mutual,  was  also  the  god-father  of  the  Connecticut  General, 
and  proposed  to  further  aid  the  infant  enterprise  with  liberal  slices 
from  the  excess  lines  of  the  parent  company.  The  promoters  rea- 
soned, quite  plausibly,  that  if  fire-rates  could  be  so  adjusted  upon  all 
classes  of  property  as  to  be  remunerative,  there  could  be  no  inherent 
difficulty  in  graduating  the  cost  of  insurance  for  impaired  lives  also. 
It  was  soon  found,  however,  that  the  infirmities  buried  in  the  human 
system  were  too  deceptive  and  variable  to  respond  to  any  determinate 
law  of  averages.  Moreover,  applicants  who  failed  to  pass  the  stan- 
dard examinations  did  not  display  expected  alacrity  in  accepting  the 
benefits  of  the  new  departure  on  the  terms  proposed.  Each  one's 
confidence  in  his  own  destiny  is  so  strong  that  he  must  either  suffer 
from  "malaria,"  or  be  clearly  nearing  the  grave,  before  he  will  admit 
that  his  chances  of  longevity  are  less  than  those  of  his  neighbor. 
Happily  the  error  in  the    theory  was    soon    shown    by  the    perplexities 


58  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

encountered  in  attempts  to  apply  it,  and  in  two  years  the  feature  was 
abandoned  and  the  business  of  the  company  thenceforth  confined  to 
first-class  risks. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  Universal  life  insurance  company, 
organized  about  the  same  time  on  the  same  theory,  persisted  in 
adhering  to  the  plan,  and  paid  the  penalty  a  few  years  later  by 
dying  bravely  in  the  last  ditch. 

The  Connecticut  General  began  business  in  September,  1865.  ^n 
view  of  the  extra  hazards  and  unknown  conditions  to  be  met,  the 
capital  was  fixed  at  $500,000.  When  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  amount 
had  been  called  in,  the  abandonment  of  the  original  design  removed 
the  need  of  a  larger  sum,  and  accordingly,  by  act  of  the  legislature 
in  1874,  the  capital  was  reduced  to  $250,000,  and  again  in  1880,  to 
$150,000,  where  it  remains. 

James  S.  Niles,  president  during  the  short  period  of  organization, 
was  succeeded  by  Edward  W.  Parsons,  first  vice-president.  Thomas 
W.  Russell,  secretary  of  the  company  from  its  origin  until  then,  was 
made  president  in  May,   1876,  and  still  fills  the  position. 

Taught  by  the  peculiar  experience  of  the  first  two  years,  the  pol- 
icy of  the  managers  has  since  been  to  do  a  thoroughly  safe  business, 
confining  itself  to  the  salubrious  portions  of  our  own  country,  and  to 
well-approved  plans  of  insurance.  Its  losses  have  always  been  paid 
promptly.  Although  one  of  the  youngest,  it  is  also  one  of  the  strong- 
est companies  intrinsically  in  the  United  States,  the  ratio  of  assets 
to  liabilities,  upon  a  four  per  cent,  basis  of  reserve,  being  132  to  100. 
Its  funds,  carefully  invested  in  sound  securities,  amounted,  Jan.  1, 
1889,  to  $1,841,696.70,  with  a  surplus  to  policy-holders  of  $469,477.81. 

The  officers  are  Thomas  XV.  Russell,  president ;  F.  V.  Hudson, 
secretary ;  E.  B.  Peck,  assistant  secretary  ;  and  M.  Storrs,  M.D.,  con- 
sulting physician. 

HARTFORD  LIFE  AND  ANNUITY  INSURANCE  COMPANY. 
The  Hartford  Life  and  Annuity  Insurance  Company,  chartered  in 
May.  1866,  under  a  different  name,  to  do  an  accident  business,  began 
issuing  life  policies  on  the  customary  plans  in  August,  1S67,  having 
after  a  short  trial  given  up  the  accident  feature,  on  account  of  its 
supposed    unprofitableness.      After    careful    elaboration,    the    company, 


HARTFORD    LIFE    AND    ANNUITY    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  59 

early  in  i8So,  adopted  the  system  which  requires  policy-holders  to 
pay  only  for  the  actual  mortality  among  members  as  it  occurs  in 
quarterly  periods.  Applicants  for  insurance  pay  a  single  admission 
fee,  which  varies  according  to  the  amount  required,  but  not  with  the 
age  of  the  person.  For  collecting  and  distributing  the  funds,  and  all 
other  expenses  of  management,  a  yearly  charge  of  S3  per  $1,000  of 
insurance  is  made,  and  the  rate  cannot  be  increased.  The  safety 
fund,  which  gives  the  system  its  name,  is  made  up  exclusively  of  con- 
tributions of  $10  per  $1,000,  required  of  each  member  once  only,  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Security  Company  of  Hartford  as  trustee 
for  the  policy-holders.  At  present  it  amounts  to  over  $600,000,  and 
will  continue  to  be  augmented  by  payments  from  new  members  till  it 
reaches  one  million  of  dollars,  invested  at  face  value  in  United  States 
bonds.  Semi-annually  the  entire  net  income  from  the  fund  must  be 
divided  pro  rata  among  the  holders  of  certificates  in  force,  who,  five 
years  before  or  earlier,  contributed  to  it  their  full  share,  and  the  divi- 
dends thus  accruing  are  applied  to  the  reduction  of  future  dues  and 
mortality-calls.  When  the  fund  reaches  one  million,  the  contributions 
from  new  members  are  semi-annually  added  to  the  income  from  it, 
when  the  entire  surplus  thus  accruing  is  distributed  in  like  manner. 

The  principal,  placed  by  a  deed  of  trust  beyond  the  control  of 
the  company,  remains  at  an  even  million,  as  a  guaranty  that  death 
claims  shall  always  be  met  in  full,  even  if  the  membership  for  any 
cause  be  so  reduced  that  stipulated  mortality-calls  fail  to  produce 
enough  to  satisfy  the  claims. 

By  mathematical  computation  the  rates  are  so  fixed  that  the 
amount  of  insurance  in  force  must  fall  below  one  million  dollars  to 
cause  an  insufficient  membership.  Should  such  contingency  occur,  the 
trustee  is  required,  from  the  principal  of  the  safety  fund,  to  pay  all 
outstanding  policies  in  full,  without  waiting  for  death  to  mature  the 
claims.  Had  the  condition  arisen  in  the  early  stages  of  the  venture, 
and  before  the  accumulations  were  sufficient  to  meet  all  liabilities  in 
full,  the  deed  provided  for  the  division  of  the  fund  pro  rata  among 
the  holders  of  certificates  in  force.  This  is  the  only  company  in  the 
country  doing  business  on  the  assessment  plan  where  an  ample  fund 
is  built  up  to  protect  the  insured  against  adverse  possibilities  liable 
to  occur  in  the  distant  future. 


60  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    COXX. 

Cash  capital,  $250,000;  outstanding  insurance,  over  sixty  millions; 
new  business,  about  eleven  millions  per  annum. 

The  officers  are,  Fred.  R.  Foster,  president;  H.  A.  Whitmore,  vice- 
president;  Stephen  Ball,  secretary;  and  A.  T.  Smith,  superintendent 
of  agencies. 

MUTUAL    BENEFIT    LIFE    COMPANY. 

This  company  commenced  business  in  1869.  On  Jan.  1,  1889,  its 
gross  assets  amounted  to  $137,680.75. 

Alfred  R.  Goodrich,  president;   DeWitt  J.  Peek,  secretary. 

NATIONAL    BENEFIT    LIFE    ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  commenced  business  March  26,  1888,  and  on  Jan. 
1,  1889,  had  assets  amounting  to  $69,817.85. 

O.  H.  Blanchard,  president;   Eben  E.  Smith,  secretary. 

THE    TRAVELERS    INSURANCE    COMPANY. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  while  traveling  in  Europe,  James  G. 
Batterson,  of  Hartford,  became  interested  in  the  subject  of  casualty 
insurance,  and  after  examining  the  methods  pursued  in  England 
and  on  the  continent,  was  convinced  that  the  system  could  be  advan- 
tageously transplanted  into  the  United  States.  On  his  return  home, 
the  scheme  was  talked  over  with  influential  friends,  but  at  first  met 
with  little  encouragement  or  sympathy.  However,  the  personal  force 
of  the  projector,  backed  by  arguments  which  grew  in  number  and 
cogency  as  the  discussion  went  on,  began  to  win  valuable  converts, 
and  the  enterprise  soon  materialized  in  tangible  form.  Outside  of 
the  charmed  circle  skepticism  still  prevailed,  but  a  nucleus  had  been 
formed,  and  a  charter  was  secured  in  June,  1863.  The  new  venture 
"of  strange  device,"  organized  on  a  capital  of  $300,000,  was  ready 
for   business  in    April,   1864. 

Borrowing  the  central  idea  from  the  Railway  Passengers'  Assur- 
ance Company  of  England,  the  Travelers  was  incorporated  with  power 
to  insure  "  persons  against  the  accidental  loss  of  life  or  personal 
injury  sustained  while  traveling  by  railway,  steamboat,  or  other 
mode  of  conveyance."  Finding  the  power  granted  too  narrow,  the 
managers  secured  an   amendment   in  June,   1864,   authorizing   "all   and 


62  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    COXX. 

every  insurance  connected  with  accidental  loss  of  life,  or  personal 
injury    sustained    by    accident    of   every    description." 

Mr.  Batterson  was  fortunate  in  inspiring  with  a  full  measure  of 
his  own  enthusiasm  Rodney  Dennis,  who  took  the  secretaryship.  To 
the  substantial  nucleus  of  president  and  secretary,  were  added  in 
time  several  other  young  men  who  manifested  capacity  for  the 
assimilation  and  mastery  of  complex  details,  and  the  gifts  of  all 
were  put  to  a  severe  test  in  the  early  struggles  of  the  company 
for  existence.  Severe  labor,  rigid  economy,  and  especially  quickness 
and  accuracy  in  the  interpretation  of  facts,  carried  the  enterprise 
safely  through  the  perils  of  infancy.  Not  a  penny  was  wasted  on 
superfluities.  The  first  office,  located  on  the  second  floor  to  save 
rent,  was  furnished  with  two  chairs  and  a  second-hand  pine  desk 
set  on  a  cheap  table.  A  carpet  was  an  extravagance  not  to  be 
thought  of.  For  a  while  the  officers  did  all  the  work  alone,  writ- 
ing the  letters,  keeping  the  books,  instructing  agents  in  the  mys- 
teries of  the  craft,  and  running  on  errands  for  exercise.  The  first 
luxury  to  be  introduced  was  an  office  boy,  who  became  assistant 
secretary. 

For  eight  generations  children  have  read  with  unabated  interest 
of  the  pilgrimage  of  Hooker  and  his  flock  through  the  trackless 
forest,  from  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut, 
with  only  the  compass  and  north  star  for  guides.  On  starting  into 
the  wilderness  the  Travelers  had  the  benefit  of  neither  compass  nor 
star.  At  home  no  one  had  gone  before  to  cut  a  bush  or  blaze  a 
tree,  while  the  conditions  underlying  the  casualty  business  in  Eng- 
land differed  so  widely  from  those  in  America  that  the  scanty  gen- 
eralizations formulated  in  tables  by  the  pattern-company  proved 
treacherous  and  misleading.  From  the  bottom  stone  in  the  founda- 
tion to  the  flag-staff  on  the  tower,  the  officers  constructed  as  they 
went,  without  aid  from  architectural  designs  or  preformed  plans,  nec- 
essarily making  many  mistakes,  and  costly  mistakes,  too  —  tearing 
down,  changing,  rebuilding,  adding  here  and  discarding  there  —  till 
from  a  chaos  of  materials  grew  the  present,  solid,  stately,  and  endur- 
ing edifice,    the  despair   of  rivals  and   the   delight  of    friends. 

No  kind  of  business,  and  especially  no  branch  of  insurance,  can 
be  carried  on    with    safety  till   its  laws  have   been  generalized   from  a. 


THE    TRAVELERS    INSURANCE    COMPANY.  6$ 

wide  range  of  experience.  In  the  case  of  the  Travelers,  it  was  nec- 
essary to  get  the  experience  and  to  deduce  the  governing  principles 
simultaneously.  The  process  of  adjustment  demanded  frequent  and 
radical  changes  in  classifications  and  rates,  introducing  confusion  into 
methods,  annoying  and  losing  patrons,  and  exciting  in  faithful  agents 
ebullitions  of  sore  displeasure.  The  knife  of  the  surgeon  was  in  con- 
stant requisition.  Meanwhile,  the  executive  officers  did  not  sleep  on 
beds  of  roses,  at  least  till  the  small  hours  of  the  morning,  for  mid- 
night often  found  them  at  headquarters,  toiling  over  the  solution  of 
changeful  problems,  or  anxiously  discussing  what  should  be  done  next. 

The  palpable  benefits  of  the  system,  the  disbursement  over  a  wide 
area  of  many  small  sums  to  injured  persons  who  fortunately  held 
policies  in  the  Travelers,  the  gratuitous  advertising  given  to  the 
business  by  its  relations  to  destructive  railway  accidents,  though 
productive  of  a  copious  inflow  of  premiums,  damaged  the  company  at 
a  certain  stage  of  growth  in  two  ways.  Men  engaged  in  dangerous 
pursuits  insured  in  large  numbers  before  the  actual  cost  of  the 
hazard  had  been  determined,  and,  in  fact,  bought  indemnity  much  too 
low.  Perils  from  this  source  passed  away  as  enlarged  experience  en- 
abled the  officers  to  correct  the  tables.  The  other  clanger  came 
from  the  opposite  quarter,  and  though  serious  enough  in  the  thick  of 
the  fight,  now  seems  almost  ludicrous,  when  viewed  in  connection  with 
the  mental  conditions  which  preceded  and  followed  in  swift  succession. 
Reversing  the  normal  sequence  of  development,  the  age  of  skepticism 
yielded  place  to  an  age  of  faith,  and  before  the  doubting  Thomases 
near  home  had  ceased  to  hum,  with  a  slight  accent  of  derision,  "  what 
will  the  harvest  be,"  a  swarm  of  casualty  companies,  organized  in 
1865  and  1866,  rushed  wildly  into  the  field.  With  ample  powers  of 
destruction  all  lacked  the  art  of  construction,  and  after  emulating  the 
feats  of  the  historic  bull  in  the  china  shop,  sank  one  by  one  into  un- 
remembered  graves,  and  though  mourners  were  many,  the  only 
monuments  of  the  departed  are  the  death-records  in  the  State  insur- 
ance reports. 

The  company  issues  accident  insurance  tickets,  chiefly  sold  at 
railway  stations,  running  from  one  to  thirty  days,  and  covering 
general  accidents  on  or  off  public  transportation ;  and  general 
accident  policies,  sold  through  agents,  and  running  from  one  to  twelve 


64  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

months.  "  In  case  of  death  or  loss  of  both  hands,  both  feet,  a  hand 
and  a  foot,  or  the  sight  of  both  eyes,  from  such  injuries  alone  within 
three  months,  the  principal  sum  insured  will  be  paid ;  if  one  hand 
or  one  foot  is  thus  lost,  one-third  the  principal  sum  ;  in  all  cases  of 
total  disability,  weekly  indemnity  will  be  allowed  up  to  a  limit  of 
twenty-six  weeks.  Policies  are  not  forfeited  by  change  of  occupation, 
being  paid  in  the  same  proportion  the  premium  under  the  new  ex- 
posure bears  to  that  under  the  old." 

Nearly  all  the  concerns,  organized  in  the  sixties  in  imitation  of 
the  Travelers,  also  began  to  issue  railway  accident  tickets,  introducing 
such  confusion  into  the  business  that  the  principal  ones  soon  agreed 
to  combine  in  the  formation  of  a  new  company,  intended  to  prosecute 
the  work  for  their  joint  benefit  under  a  uniform  system  extending 
over  the  whole  country.  Accordingly,  in  May,  1865,  a  Connecticut 
charter  was  procured  for  the  Railway  Passengers  Assurance  Company, 
which  was  organized  the  following  year  on  a  capital  of  $250,000, 
contributed  by  the  several  corporations  under  the  hegemony  of  the 
Travelers.  Each  had  at  least  one  representative  in  the  directory. 
Headquarters  were  established  at  Hartford,  and  James  G.  Batterson 
Avas  chosen  president.  By  a  singular  fatality  all  the  others  found  the 
losses  from  the  residue  of  their  business  too  great  to  be  repaired  by 
the  dividends  from  their  common  offspring,  and  one  after  another 
perished  by  the  wayside  till  the  Travelers  remained  sole  survivor, 
residuary  legatee,  and  reinsurer  of  the  rest.  The  occasion  for  its 
separate  existence  having  passed,  the  company  retired  in  1878,  having 
turned  over  its  risks  to  the  only  living  parent. 

In  1866,  under  legislative  sanction,  a  life  department  was  added  to 
the  Travelers,  and  while  the  accounts  are  kept  entirely  distinct,  both 
are  under  the  same  management.  All  policies  are  issued  at  low 
cost  for  cash,  the  element  of  participation  and  the  margin  that  adorns 
it  being  entirely  excluded. 

Having  outgrown  rented  rooms,  the  Travelers  purchased,  in  1872, 
the  historic  mansion  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Prospect  and  Grove 
streets,  occupied,  among  others,  by  Oliver  YVolcott,  secretary  of  the 
U.  S.  Treasury  under  Washington,  governor  of  Connecticut,  etc. ; 
Professor  Charles  Davies ;  Henry  L.  Ellsworth,  commissioner  of 
patents ;     Roswell    C.    Smith,    manufacturer    of    school    books ;    Isaac 


THE    TRAVELERS    INSURANXE    COMPANY.  6$ 

Toucey,  governor,  secretary  of  the  navy,  etc.  The  structure  has  been 
remodeled  and  enlarged  in  the  rear,  making  a  commodious  home 
office. 

A  very  great  proportion  of  the  losses  in  the  accident  department 
of  the  Travelers  come  from  the  ordinary  casualties  daily  occurring  all 
over  the  country,  which  attract  little  attention  beyond  a  limited  circle; 
the  large  sums  which  the  company  is  often  required  to  pay  to  the 
injured  and  to  the  heirs  of  the  killed,  after  notable  disasters,  making 
but  a  small  fraction  of  its  disbursements.  Still,  death-claims  alone 
amounted  to  $32,000  from  the  railway  accident  at  Angola,  January, 
1868;  to  $43,000  at  Carr's  Rock,  April,  1868;  to  $20,000  at  New 
Hamburg,  February,  187 1;  to  $13,000,  steamer  Metis,  September,  1872; 
to  $52,000  at  Ashtabula,  January,  1877;  to  $15,000  at  Chatsworth,  111., 
August,    1887. 

At  the  time  of  the  great  conflagration,  one  hundred  and  eighty-one 
Chicago  firemen  held  policies  in  the  Travelers,  and  not  one  was  in- 
jured, though  over  $20,000  had  previously  been  paid  there  on  this 
single  class  of  risks. 

The  Travelers  Record,  issued  monthly  from  the  home  office,  by 
giving  wide  currency  to  facts  and  arguments  showing  the  benefits  of 
casualty  insurance,  has  aided  materially  in  enlightening  the  public, 
and  thus  extending  the  business. 

Jan.  1,  1889,  the  gross  assets  of  the  Travelers  were  $10,382,781.92, 
with  a  surplus  to  policy-holders  of  $2,041,210.41.  It  had  paid  policy- 
holders in  the  life  department  $4,853,643.68,  and  in  the  accident  de- 
partment $11,037,132.72,  making  a  total  of  $15,890,776.40.  For  the 
year  1888,  the  entire  income  of  both  departments  was  $3,987,399.99. 
Its  executive  officers  are,  James  G.  Batterson,  president ;  Gustavus 
F.  Davis,  vice-president:  Rodney  Dennis,  secretary;  John  E.  Morris, 
assistant  secretary;  George  Ellis,  actuary;  J.  B.  Lewis,  M.  D.,  surgeon 
and  adjuster;   Edward  V.  Preston,  superintendent  of  agencies. 

After  the  lapse  of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  the  organiza- 
tion remains  essentially  the  same  as  at  the  beginning,  little  change 
having  occurred  in  executive  officers,  or  in  the  board  of  directors 
except  from  death. 


66  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

THE    HARTFORD    STEAM     BOILER     INSPECTION     AND 
INSURANCE     COMPANY. 

In  the  year  1857,  a  coterie  of  young  men  in  Hartford,  drawn 
together  by  similarity  of  tastes,  organized  the  "  Polytechnic  Club " 
with  the  view,  primarily,  of  investigating  and  discussing  questions  of 
science  in  relation  to  the  utilities  of  practical  life.  Among  the  mem- 
bers were  Elisha  K.  Root,  who  succeeded  Colonel  Colt  in  the  presi- 
dency of  the  armory,  Francis  A.  Pratt,  Amos  W.  Whitney,  E.  M. 
Reed,  Professor  C.  B.  Richards  of  Yale,  Charles  F.  Howard,  Joseph 
Blanchard,  J.  M.  Allen,  and  others.  Although  few  in  number,  they 
have,  on  different  lines  of  effort,  made  a  marked  impression  on  the 
events  of  the  period. 

About  this  Hme  Professor  Tyndall  threw  out  the  suggestion 
incidentally  in  one  of  his  lectures  that  the  spheroidal  condition  of 
water  on  the  fire-plates  of  boilers  might  be  the  cause  of  disastrous 
explosions.  The  hint,  for  it  was  scarcely  more,  became  the  text  of 
frequent  talks  regarding  the  cause  of  such  explosions  and  the  best 
methods  of  prevention.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Reed,  on  returning  from  a 
European  trip,  brought  home  the  results  of  late  experiments  conducted 
under  the  direction  of  Sir  William  Fairbairn.  It  also  became  known 
that  the  Manchester  Steam  Users  Association  had  already  been 
organized  in  England  with  the  view  of  preventing  boiler  explosions 
by  periodical  inspection.  Under  the  system  as  started  there,  the 
manufacturer  paid  a  certain  sum  annually  for  the  examination,  re- 
ceiving in  return  either  a  certificate  of  the  safe  condition  of  his 
boiler,  or  a  report  condemning  it,  but  the  certificate,  like  those  in 
some  places  since  issued  by  direct  appointees  of  the  State,  involved  no 
pecuniary  obligation  whatever,  and  if  disaster  occurred,  the  paper, 
while  relieving  the  holder  from  the  charge  of  carelessness,  entitled 
him  to  no  indemnity. 

Although  not  one  of  the  members  of  the  Polytechnic  Club  was 
connected  with  insurance,  the  body  unconsciously  drew  inspiration 
from  the  local  predominance  of  the  interest,  which  was  then  making 
Hartford  famous  as  the  home  of  skilled  underwriters.  In  the  course 
of  the  debates  on  the  subject  the  attention  of  the  young  men  was 
attracted    to    the    feasibility    of    combining    a   guaranty    with    the    in- 


STEAM    BOILER    INSPECTION    AND    INSURANCE.  6j 

spection,  thus  giving  both  parties  to  the  contract  a  pecuniary  interest 
in  the  safety  of  the  boiler.  So  far  as  known,  the  conception  had  not 
at  that  time  materialized  elsewhere.  Although  distinctly  evolved  in 
the  club,  the  seminal  idea  waited  several  years  for  further  develop- 
ment on  account  of  the  intervention  of  the  civil  war. 

With  the  return  of  peace,  the  subject  was  revived,  and  in  May, 
1866,  prominent  manufacturers  in  and  out  of  the  State  secured  a 
charter  empowering  the  company  formed  under  it  "to  inspect  steam 
boilers  and  insure  the  owners  against  loss  or  damage  arising  from 
boiler  explosions."  Among  the  corporators  were  Richard  W.  H.  Jarvis 
and  Charles  M.  Beach. 

In  the  following  November  the  company  was  organized,  when  J. 
M.  Allen,  who  had  given  much  study  to  this  and  related  subjects,  was 
urged  to  take  the  management,  but  having  made  other  engagements 
for  the  year,  was  compelled  to  decline.  E.  C.  Roberts  was  accordingly 
elected  president,  and  H.  H.  Hayden,  secretary.  In  October,  1867, 
Mr.  Allen  succeeded  to  the  presidency,  and  under  his  care  a  sickly 
infant,  seriously  threatened  more  than  once  with  early  death,  has  in 
twenty  years  grown  into  present  usefulness,  strength,  and  influence. 

For  a  long  time  the  process  was  slow,  and  the  way  wearisome. 
Most  seemed  to  regard  the  new  departure  as  a  useless  novelty  that 
must  soon  run  its  short-lived  course.  What  will  Hartford  people 
undertake  to  insure  next  ?  was  a  question  often  asked  in  tones  of 
undisguised  derision.  In  the  hands  of  a  manager  less  firm  in  con- 
viction, or  less  conciliatory  in  manner,  the  prophecy  of  disaster  must 
have  wrought  its  own  fulfillment.  Mr.  Allen  met  the  flavor  of 
sarcasm  with  the  antidote  of  pleasantry,  and  toiled  on  to  create  a 
demand  which  it  should  be  his  future  business  to  supply. 

For  the  first  five  years  the  company  occupied  a  single  room  six- 
teen or  eighteen  feet  square,  and  for  the  same  period  the  floor  of  the 
vault  was  spread  with  papers  for  the  protection  of  the  books,  from 
the  unwillingness  of  the  officers  to  go  to  the  extravagance  of  fitting 
it  up  with  shelves.  In  a  moment  of  self-indulgence  the  president  did 
invest  fourteen  dollars  in  a  desk  for  his  own  use,  but  such  outbreaks 
of  luxury  seldom  occurred. 

It  is  an  open  secret  that  all  the  successful  insurance  companies 
of    Hartford  practiced   the   most   rigid   economy   till   their   business   be- 


68  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

came  thoroughly  established,  while  those  which  set  out  with  the  theory 
that  success  could  be  hastened  by  a  liberal  scale  of  expenditure,  in- 
variably dropped  into  the  sleep  that  knows  no  awakening.  Other 
classes  may  profit  by  the  lesson. 

During  the  first  year  of  his  incumbency,  Mr.  Allen  started  the 
Locomotive,  a  monthly  which  has  built  up  a  body  of  valuable  literature 
concerning  the  steam  boiler  and  cognate  subjects.  In  it,  after  ex- 
haustive investigation,  are  treated,  with  various  illustrative  aids,  par- 
ticular cases  of  explosion,  with  the  view  of  explaining  the  exact  cause. 
From  the  multiplicity  of  inquiries  thus  pursued,  generalizations  of  the 
utmost  value  have  been  formed.  Nineteen  thousand  copies  are  dis- 
tributed each  month,  and  the  paper  is  highly  prized,  not  only  by 
practical  men,  but  also  by  students  of  science. 

In  the  prosecution  of  its  work  the  energies  of  the  company  are 
mainly  directed  to  the  cure  of  defects  and  the  prevention  of  disaster. 
Boilers  under  its  care  are  visited  by  experts  at  stated  periods,  and 
thoroughly  examined,  while  the  appliances  intended  to  secure  safety 
are  put  in  complete  order.  During  the  year  1888,  91,567  defects 
were  reported,  of  which  8,967  were  dangerous.  Had  these  been 
allowed  to  go  undetected,  the  neglect  in  bad  cases  would  have  borne 
fruit  hereafter  in  the  needless  destruction  of  life,  limb,  and  property. 
This  part  of  the  work  is  performed  by  ninety-five  skilled  and  trained 
inspectors. 

Some  defects  are  beyond  the  reach  of  human  scrutiny,  and  hence, 
with  the  resources  now  at  our  command,  the  element  of  danger  can- 
not be  completely  eliminated.  In  case  of  explosion  or  rupture,  the 
company  makes  good  all  loss  or  damage  to  property,  with  indemnity 
for  loss  of  life  or  personal  injury,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  the 
sum  insured. 

The  home  office  is  a  magazine  of  statistics  and  information,  col- 
lected from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  relating  to  every  phase  of 
the  business,  and  of  the  whole  patrons  have  the  benefit  free. 

The  company,  without  charge,  furnishes  to  the  insured  plans  and 
specifications  for  boilers,  settings,  and  piping;  also  for  steam  chim- 
neys, and  when  desired,  supervises  the  erection,  at  reasonable  expense. 
These  embody  the  principles  taught  by  scientific  research  and  approved 
by  experience,  as  made  to  subserve  the  attainment  of  the  highest  de- 


jETNA  life  insurance  company's  building. 

(Home  Office  of  the  Hartford  Steam  Boiler  Inspection  and  Insurance  Company.) 


(69) 


JO  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

gree  of  economy,  efficiency,  and  safety.  Many  large  plants  have  been 
thus  built,  requiring  few  years  to  offset  the  original  cost  by  the  sav- 
ing of  fuel.  Suggestions  in  the  way  of  economy  make  a  part  of  the 
ordinary  inspections. 

The  company  has  a  laboratory  for  the  analysis  of  waters  injurious 
to  boilers,  and  is  thus  able  to  prescribe  the  proper  chemical  remedy. 

No  officer  or  employe  is  permitted  to  have  a  pecuniary  interest  in 
any  boiler  or  boiler  appliance.  While  the  best  advice  is  given,  an 
attitude  of  impartiality  toward  the  trade  is  strictly  maintained. 

They  now  insure  29,000  boilers,  the  annual  explosions  averaging 
about  one  one-hundredth  of  one  per  cent.  The  imagination  alone  can 
deal  with  the  saving  of  life,  of  suffering,  and  of  property  through  the 
methods  which  have  been  elaborated  and  introduced  to  the  world  by 
a  company  which  might,  without  violence  to  language,  be  classed 
among  the  beneficent  institutions  .of  Hartford. 

Up  to  Jan.  1,  1889,  the  company  had  returned  to  patrons,  in  losses 
paid  and  cost  of  inspections,  the  sum  of  $1,750,286.01.  As  an  index 
of  the  public  appreciation  of  the  service  rendered,  the  gross  premiums 
since  1884  have  increased  at  the  rate  of  about  $100,000  a  year,  rising 
in  1888  to  $708,212.11.  The  heavy  drain  upon  the  revenues  comes 
from  cost  of  inspections,  not  from  settlement  of  claims  under  policies. 
On  Jan.  1,  1889,  the  total  assets  reached  $1,275,114,  and  the  entire 
liability  for  losses  accrued  but  not  adjusted,  $8,064.66. 

In  1873,  the  company  moved  into  the  present  /Etna  Life  Insurance 
building,  where  its  rooms  are  equipped  with  all  the  scientific  appli- 
ances for  the  conduct  of  the  business. 

In  January,  1869,  Theodore  H.  Babcock  succeeded  Mr.  Hayden  as 
secretary,  holding  the  place  till  February,  1873,  when  he  retired  to 
become  manager  of  the  New  York  department,  where  he  still  remains. 
J.  B.  Pierce  was  elected  in  1873.  Present  officers  are,  J.  M.  Allen, 
president;  Wm.  B.  Franklin,  vice-president;  F.  B.  Allen,  second  vice- 
president  ;   and  J.  B.  Pierce,  secretary  and  treasurer. 


DISCOUNT    AND,    SAVINGS    BANKS. 


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72  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

BANKS    OF    DISCOUNT. 

The  banks  of  discount  in  Hartford,  National  and  State,  have  an 
aggregate  capital  of  $7,975,000,  with  a  surplus,  at  the  date  of  the  last 
official  returns,  of  $3,194,789,  and  with  deposits  of  $15,371,320.  Capi- 
tal and  surplus  united  exceed  eleven  millions,  and  this  large  sum  is 
further  swollen  by  the  deposits  to  over  twenty-six  millions.  In  a  city 
of  less  than  sixty  thousand  inhabitants,  only  a  fraction  of  the  loan- 
able accumulations  represented  by  such  figures  can  find  employment 
at  home  and  in  affiliated  communities.  Our  banks  are  compelled 
either  to  let  their  funds  lie  idle,  or  to  buy  millions  of  paper  every 
year  in  outside  markets.  They  prefer  local  customers,  partly  because 
they  know  more  about  the  character,  methods,  and  condition  of  neigh- 
bors, and  partly  because  home  borrowers  are  also  depositors.  Obvi- 
ously, residents  entitled  to  credit  can  be  furnished. with  discounts  at 
rates  ranging  somewhat  below  the  rates  current  at  the  same  time  in 
ordinary  manufacturing  centers,  where  the  supply  is  much  less  and 
the  demand  equally  urgent.  Borrowers  without  something  substantial 
to  offer  as  a  basis  of  credit,  find  all  climates  about  equally  frigid.  It 
can  be  stated  authoritatively  that  manufacturers  locating  here  on  a 
solid  foundation  will  be  treated  by  the  banks  with  a  liberality  that 
few  places  can  afford  to  offer. 

SAVINGS    BANKS. 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  18 19, 
a  charter  was  granted  to  "The  Society  for  Savings"  in  Hartford, 
which  then  had  a  population  of  a  little  less  than  7,000.  The 
society  was  a  self-perpetuating  body  of  forty-one  corporators.  Deposits 
were   restricted   to    $200   a   year   for   one   person. 

At  that  time  there  was  but  one  similar  society  in  New  England, 
which   had   been    chartered,   in    18 16,  in    Boston. 

Upon  organizing,  the  corporators  defined  the  object  of  the  society 
to  be  to  "  aid  the  industrious,  economical,  and  worthy,  to  protect  them 
from  the  extravagance  of  the  profligate,  the  snares  of  the  vicious,  and 
to  bless  them  with  competency  and  happiness."  Its  first  deposit  was 
June  19,  18 19.  In  the  first  six  months  it  received  $4,352.77  in  de- 
posits, and  declared  a  dividend  of  $37.31. 


STATE    SAVINGS    HANK. 


73 


STATE    SAVINGS    BANK    AND    BOARD    OF    TRADE    ROOMS. 


The  State  Savings  Bank  was  chartered  in  May,  1858 ;  the 
Mechanics,  in  1861  ;  and  the  Dime,  in  1870.  Below  is  shown  the 
growth  of  the  business  by  periods  of  five  years  each. 


Deposits, 


1824, 

$72,347.25 

1829, 

110,520.93 

1834, 

312,720.20 

1839, 

562,190.34 

1844. 

874,669.59 

1849, 

1,432,671.53 

1854, 

2,624,285.59 

1859, 

3,320,180.91 

1864, 

5,743,551.40 

1869, 

6,792,486.09 

1874, 

10,318,227.11 

1879, 

10,925,118.91 

1884, 

13,874,17307 

1889, 

17,120,844  77 

Increase, 


I38, 173-68 

202,199.27 

249,470.14 

312,479.25 

558,001.94 

1,191,614.06 

695,895-32 

2,423,370.49 

[,048,934.69 

3,525,741.02 

606,891.80 

2,949,054.16 

3,246,671.70 


74  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  classify  the  depositors  by  occupation, 
and  we  know  of  but  one  serious  effort  ever  made  to  accomplish  this 
object,  and  that  was  fifteen  years  ago  by  the  State  Savings  Bank. 
The  classification  made  at  that  time  is  as  follows,  and  would  un- 
doubtedly apply  to  die  present  time : 

Per  cent. 

Mechanics,  laborers,  and  operatives  in  factories,  .  28.01 

Women  and  children, 42-5° 

Farmers, 91S 

Clerks  and  agents, 3°5 

Merchants  and  Traders, 2.61 

Professional  men, 1.51 

Teachers,  male, .29 

Artists,  musicians,  hotel  and  boarding-house  keepers,  officers  of  the  army  and 

navy,  keepers  of  livery  stables,  editors  and  publishers,          ....  .41 

Unknown, 11.84 

100.00 

It  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  the  unknown  are  so  divided 
among  the  known  classes  that  the  relative  proportions  would  remain 
unchanged. 


MEMORIAL    ARCH. 


/T\aQufaeture5   ip   j^artford. 


THE   BEGINNINGS. 

~^^OR  many  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  country  the  energies 
r  (5  of  Hartford  were  largely  monopolized  by  agriculture  and  trade. 
Everywhere  as  new  towns  were  planted  in  the  wilderness,  the 
evolution  of  ancillary  industries  followed  for  generations  within 
narrow  limits  certain  well-defined  lines,  and  it  was  not  till  well  into 
the  present  century  that  differentiation  on  a  geometrical  scale  of 
progress  began.  Such  aids  to  muscle  as  were  most  urgent,  and 
could  be  supplied  from  the  resources  of  a  primitive  community,  came 
first.  In  1637,  a  grist  mill  was  built  on  *Little  river,  on  a  site  that 
has  been  continuously  occupied  for  the  same  purpose  since.  More 
than  twenty  years  elapsed  before  the  colonists  enjoyed  the  benefits 
of  a  saw-mill,  having  built  all  their  early  homes  from  logs  and  boards 
prepared  by  hand.  Cloth  from  hemp,  flax,  wool,  and  cotton  was  made 
at  odd  hours  on  domestic  looms.  Tanneries  were  soon  introduced, 
the  shoemaker  rather  preceding  the  tailor  in  ministering  to  the  com- 
fort and  adornment   of  the  settler. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  town,  before  the  end  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  were  several  fulling  mills  for  removing  greasy  matters  from 
domestic  woolens  and  giving  them  a  more  compact  texture.  Later, 
the  export  of  hoops  and  staves  to  the  West  Indies  encouraged 
cooperage.  The  making  of  hats  began  early  and  continued  till 
recently,  but  in  the  modern  whirl  has  been  transferred  to  other 
places.  Attempts  to  domicile  the  silk  industry,  pursued  on  a  small  scale 
for  over  a  century  at  Mansfield  and  elsewhere,  finally  expanded  in 
Hartford  and  South  Manchester  into  the  factories  of  the  Cheney 
Brothers,  in  which  millions  are  profitably  invested. 


®This   stream    has   been    known    at  different   times   as    "The    Riveret,"    "Mill," 
"Little,"   and  now  as   "Park"   river. 

(75) 


j6  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

THE    FIRST   WOOLEN    MILL    IN    AMERICA. 

A  woolen  mill,  the  first  in  the  country,  was  started  in  Hartford  in 
1788.  Its  capital  of  ,£1,250  was  taken  by  thirty-one  persons,  including 
several  leading  men  of  the  State.  At  the  ceremonies  attending  the 
inauguration  of  General  Washington,  April  30,  1779,  the  president, 
vice-president,  and  Connecticut  delegation  in  Congress,  were  dressed* 
in  cloth  from  this  mill.  Contemporaneous  press  notices  show  that 
the  promoters  of  the  enterprise  knew  how  to  improve  the  incident  to 
advertise  their  wares.  On  his  tour  through  New  England  General 
Washington  visited  the  factory  in  October,  and  on  the  assembling  of 
Congress,  Jan.  8,  1790,  addressed  both  houses  in  a  "crow  colored 
suit "  from  the  same  establishment.  During  four  months,  from  Sept. 
1,  1788,  10,278  yards  were  made,  in  brown  and  gray,  known  as 
"Congress  Brown"  and  "Hartford  Gray."  It  sold  at  prices  ranging 
from  $2.50    to    $5.00    per    yard. 

In  1 79 1,  a  lottery,  created  to  aid  the  enterprise,  netted  nearly 
$10,000,  postponing  but  not  arresting  the  inevitable  collapse.  Lack 
of  communication  between  different  parts  of  the  country  narrowed 
the  market ;  the  general  poverty  after  the  revolution  permitted  few 
to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  broadcloth  ;  and  in  the  supply  of  such 
demand  as  existed  the  company  was  forced  to  compete  with  the 
abundant  capital,  superior  machinery,  and  cheap  labor  of  Europe. 
Unsold  goods  accumulated  in  spite  of  their  excellence.  Auctions 
relieved  the  plethora,  but  weakened  the  treasury.  In  December, 
1794,  the  company  declared  a  dividend  of  fifty  per  cent.,  to  be  paid 
in  cloth,  and  a  few  months  later  dissolved.  A  venture  courageous 
but  premature  ended  in  disappointment.  The  old  factory  on  Little 
river,  near  the   foot   of   Mulberry  street,   was  burned   April  3,   1854. 


-Just  a  century  later,  on  March  4,  1889,  President  Harrison  and  Vice-President 
Morton  wore  inaugural  suits  made  from  cloth  manufactured  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Hartford,  and  these  high  officials  are  expected  to  appear  at  the  coming 
centennial  celebration  in  New  York  city  similarly  attired.  Not  to  be  left  too  far 
behind  in  the  march  of  progress,  the  South  American  republics  also  are  now  send 
ing  to  the  same  mill  for  inaugural  suits.  Twenty-five  million  pounds  of  wool  are 
consumed  annually  in  the  factories  about  this  city. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INDUSTRIES.  JJ 

MISCELLANEOUS     INDUSTRIES. 

About  1797,  Dr.  Apollos  Kinsley  built  the  first  steam  road  wagon 
ever  operated.  He  also  invented  the  first  brick  pressing  machine, 
and  with  it  were  made  the  molded  bricks  still  to  be  seen  in  the 
"mansion  house"   just  west   of  the   police   station  on   Kinsley  street. 

Bell-making  flourished  through  a  long  period  —  a  century  ago  in 
the  hands  of  Doolittle  &  Goodyear,  and  a  generation  later  in  the 
large  establishment  of  Ward,  Bartholomew  &  Brainard,  located  back 
from  Main  street,  opposite  St.  John's  Church.  Although  the  busi- 
ness has  departed,  some  of  its  secrets  survive.  A  Spanish  half  real 
(6\  cents),  melted  with  each  casting,  was  supposed  to  give  a  silvery 
tone  to  the  metal,  while  this  prodigality  in  the  use  of  coin  served 
the  double  purpose  of  explaining  to  church  committees  the  cost- 
liness of  bells,  and  of  saving,  in  some  cases,  perhaps,  the  conscience 
of  the  dealer  from  the  dread  alternative  of  straining  the  truth  to 
the  point  of  fracture. 

East  Hartford,  including  Manchester,  formed  a  part  of  the  town- 
ship of  Hartford  till  1783,  and  since,  as  well  as  before,  the  commu- 
nities have  been  closely  united  by  social  and  business  ties.  In  1747, 
under  an  exclusive  privilege  granted  by  the  general  court  for  fourteen 
years,  Col.  Joseph  Pitkin  set  up,  on  Hockanum  river,  a  forge  for 
making  bar-iron,  and  a  mill  for  iron  slitting.  Three  years  later,  par- 
liament passed  an  act  prohibiting  the  continuance  in  the  colonies  of 
iron  mills  and  furnaces  for  making  steel,  under  a  penalty  of  two  hun- 
dred pounds,  and  thus  at  birth  was  throttled  a  promising  industry. 
J  Hiring  the  Revolution,  in  the  same  buildings,  powder  was  made  ill 
large  quantities,  by  the  Pitkin  family,  for  the  Continental  army,  for 
which  they  were  afterwards  compensated  in  part  by  grants  of  exclu- 
sive privileges  in  the  manufacture  of  glass  and  snuff.  In  1782,  they 
were  also  forging  anchors,  and  making  mill-screws  and  nail-rods. 
Here,  in  1797,  were  cast  the  guns  which  Elisha  Pitkin  gave  to  the 
old  artillery  company. 

Most  of  the  prominent  families  of  Connecticut  during  the  eight- 
eenth century  found  in  politics  and  in  the  professions  spheres  for 
the  exercise  of  their  superfluous  energies,  but  the  Pitkins  were  also 
irrepressible    leaders    in    the    modern    industrial    movement,  which   long 


mmmmm 


I  ■  r  >  1 1  V  I.I.I,     I'AKK     ANT)    C  API  l<  i[.. 


MISCELLANEOUS    INDUSTRIES.  79 

struggled  against  heavy  difficulties,  but  which,  after  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution  of  1818,  soon  took  a  foremost  place  in  winning  wealth 
and  influence.  In  a  mill  built  by  Elisha  Pitkin  about  1770,  at  the 
lowest  privilege  on  the  Hockanum,  was  set  up  the  first  wool-carding- 
machine  run  by  power  in  the  State,  and  probably  in  the  country. 
Felt  was  made  here  in  1807  by  Joseph,  son  of  Ehsha,  under  a  patent 
for  making  "cloth  without  yarn."  Samuel  Pitkin,  with  John  Warbur- 
ton,  an  Englishman,  as  overseer,  started  the  first  successful  cotton 
factory  in  Connecticut,  known  to  the  present  generation  as  the  Union 
Manufacturing  Company.  For  the  past  forty  years  the  family  has 
been  honorably  represented  in  the  industrial  activities  of  Hartford 
by  the  Pitkin  Brothers,  of  whom  more  will  be  said  elsewhere. 

Before  the  revolution,  John  Austin  made  silver  spoons  and  other 
articles  of  luxury  for  the  wealthy,  working,  from  lack  of  capital,  upon 
metal  furnished  by  customers.  Not  long  after  the  revolution.  Jacob 
Sargeant  began  to  manufacture  silver  ware  upon  a  much  more  exten- 
sive scale,  taking  the  lead,  not  only  in  Hartford,  but  in  Connecticut. 
He  erected  the  building  west  of  the  United  States  Hotel,  now  Nos. 
20  and  22  State  Street,  using  the  entire  premises.  On  the  lower 
floor,  back  of  the  store,  was  a  shop  for  fine  work,  including  gold 
beads  and  eardrops,  silver  spoons,  ladles,  and  sword  trimmings.  On 
the  floor  above  he  made  the  old-fashioned  tall  clocks.  E.  M.  Roberts 
has  some  of  the  tools  used  by  Mr.   Sargeant  a  hundred  years  ago. 

The  brothers,  John  0.  and  Walter  Pitkin,  succeeded  largely  to  the 
business.  They  had  a  shop  across  the  river  for  the  manufacture  of 
solid  silver  spoons,  forks,  and  spectacles,  and  the  leading  jewelry  store 
'in  Hartford,  in  a  building  on  Exchange  corner,  which  was  destroyed 
in  the  fire  of  1833.  The  disaster  did  not  check  the  prosperity  of  the 
firm.  Pressure  of  orders  often  kept  the  men  employed  till  midnight. 
The  goods  were  made  exclusively  by  hand  until  about  1855,  when  the 
concern  procured  dies  for  cutting  out  the  forms,  thus  saving  a  large 
amount  of  labor.  Competitors,  however,  soon  forced  it  to  discard  the 
dies  and  return  to  the  old  method,  by  convincing  the  public,  through 
advertisements,  that  the  hand-made   article  was  much  more  durable. 

In  1834,  Henry  and  James  F.  Pitkin  made  the  first  watches  pro- 
duced in  this   country,   known  as  the    American   lever.     Through  work- 


80  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

men    trained   by   the    Pitkins,  the   Waltham   Watch    Company   may   be 
said  to  be  a  scion  from  this  stock. 

Early  in  the  century,  T.  D.  &  S.  Boardman  led  the  way  in  the 
production  of  hollow  ware  from  Britannia,  laying  the  foundations  of 
an  industry  that,  since  the  discovery  of  electro-plating,  has  grown  into 
great  importance  here  and  elsewhere.  The  firm  was  one  of  the  ear- 
liest to  introduce  the  steam  engine. 


THE    FIRST    SPELLING-BOOK. 

In  1783,  Noah  Webster  published  in  Hartford  his  "First  Part  of 
a  Grammatical  Institute  of  the  English  Language,"  the  second  and 
third  parts  following  in  the  two  succeeding  years.  The  series  com- 
prised a  spelling-book,  grammar,  and  reader  —  the  first  books  of  the 
kind  published  in  America.  So  great  was  the  sale  of  the  speller  that 
during  the  twenty  years  he  was  employed  upon  his  dictionary,  an  in- 
come of  less  than  a  cent  a  copy  provided  the  means  for  the  entire 
support  of  his  family. 

THE    SITUATION    IN    1818. 

In  18 19,  John  C.  Pease  and  John  M.  Niles  issued  a  gazetteer  of 
Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  based  upon  statistics  for  18 18.  In 
Hartford  a  population  estimated  at  6,500  were  housed  in  850  dwellings, 
worshiped  in  six  churches,  and  sent  their  children  to  twelve  district 
schools. -  Free  from  dependence  on  the  external  world,  the  bibulous 
could  drink  the  product  of  eight  distilleries  at  twenty-one  taverns,  and 
if  constrained  by  sudden  thirst,  could  further  refresh  themselves  at. 
eighteen  ale  houses,  presumably  intercalated  at  convenient  intervals 
between  the  more  ambitious  inns.  By  1825,  the  number  of  distilleries 
had  dropped  to  two,  not  from  violence  of  reformatory  measures,  but 
because  the  restoration  of  foreign  trade,  after  the  war  of  181 2,  with- 
drew the  inordinate  stimulus  to  domestic  production. 

Then,  as  now,  Hartford  was  the  leading  trade-center  of  the  State, 
having  five  wholesale  and  twenty-six  retail  dry  goods,  and  sixty-eight 
grocery,  provision,  crockery,  and  drug  stores.  Nine  printing  offices 
helped  to  disseminate  the  wisdom  of  the  community.  So  important 
was   the    river,   not   only   to   the   town    and    country   adjacent,  but    like- 


BOOK    PUBLISHING.  8l 

wise  to  the  region  stretching  many  miles  northward,  that  fourteen 
houses  were  concerned  in  navigation.  Seven  book  stores  add  to  the 
evidence  that  personal  culture  is  indebted  to  generous  gifts  of  inherit- 
ance for  the  current  intellectual  activity,  manifested  among  other  ways 
in  the  formation  of  coteries  of  ladies  for  the  study  of  subjects  histor- 
ical and  political,  literary  and  social,  philosophical  and  scientific,  of 
all  degrees  of  abstruseness  and  complexity. 

In  1818,  the  city  was  well  provided  with  artisans,  like  blacksmiths, 
masons,  builders,  carriage  and  cabinet-makers,  and  others,  whose  labor 
was  chiefly  directed  to  the  supply  of  local  needs.  There  were,  one 
cotton  factory  of  320  spindles;  two  woolen  factories,  one  employing 
fifteen  hands;  one  machine  cord  factory,  with  an  annual  product  of 
$10,000;  one  oil  mill;  six  tanneries;  five  potteries;  one  button-factory; 
one  whip-lash  factory,  with  a  yearly  output  of  $10,000;  two  hat  facto- 
ries, one  employing  thirty-six  hands ;  two  tin  shops ;  two  looking-glass 
factories,  with  an  aggregate  annual  product  of  $30,000;  four  copper- 
smiths, one  employing  twenty  workmen;  one  bell  foundry;  one  paper 
hanging  and  one  marble  paper  factory;  six  book  binderies;  three  en- 
gravers ;  eight  gold  and  silver  smith's  shops ;  fifteen  shoe  factories ; 
ten  coopers;  three  lottery  offices;  one  maker  of  pewter  (Britannia  1 
ware ;  two  gold  leaf,  one  umbrella,  and  one  brush  factory ;  with  the 
usual  complement  of  miscellaneous  employments. 

BOOK    PUBLISHING. 

Early  in  the  century,  under  the  impulse  communicated  by  Hudson 
:S:  Goodwin,  the  business  of  book  publishing  began  to  assume  im- 
portance, and  soon  grew  to  large  proportions.  Hartford  took  the  lead 
in  selling  books  by  subscription,  and  for  many  years  retained  its  po- 
sition at  the  head  of  the  trade.  Oliver  D.  Cooke  &  Son  were  the 
pioneers,  having  in  1822  issued  a  "  Familv  Encyclopedia,"  of  which 
thousands  of  copies  were  circulated  by  this  method.  The  late  Timo- 
thy M.  Allyn  began  his  career  as  an  agent  for  the  firm,  making  much 
money  for  them  as  well  as  for  himself.  Silas  Andrus,  alone  and  in 
partnership  with  Homer  Franklin  and  J.  W.  Judd,  did  a  large  busi- 
ness, especially  in  furnishing  cheap  editions  of  standard  works,  which, 
were  sold  mostly  at  auction.  About  the  year  1825,  I).  F.  Robinson 
6 


82  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

Ov  Co.  opened  the  leading  book-store  in  the  city,  selling  over  the 
counter  as  well  as  by  agents.  They  published  many  school  books. 
The  firm  of  A.  S.  Barnes  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  was  a  scion  from  this 
stock.  L.  E.  Stebbins  gave  a  further  impetus  to  the  trade  by  invent- 
ing a  process  for  coloring  pictures  and  maps  by  stencils.  H.  F.  Sum- 
ner &  Co.,  Case  &  Tiffany.  J.  S.  Brown,  and  others,  entered  the  field 
early.  Firms  multiplied  till  there  were  nearly  twenty  publishing  houses 
in  the  city  at  one  time.  The  business  culminated  with  the  literature 
of  the  war,  but  of  late  has  declined  materially  in  importance,  though 
still  represented  by  strong  and  enterprising  establishments. 

THE    FIRST    FOURDRINIER. 

In  1829,  Henry  Hudson  of  Hartford  introduced  into  his  paper 
mill,  on  Hockanum  river,  one  of  the  first  two  Fourdrinier  machines 
made  on  this  continent,  the  other  going  to  Amos  H.  Hubbard  of  Nor- 
wich. They  were  built  by  Phelps  &  Spafford,  now  Smith,  Win- 
chester &  Co.,  of  South  Windham.  Previously  all  paper  produced 
in  America  was  either  made  by  hand  or  on  the  old  cylinder 
machine.  From  the  introduction  of  the  Fourdrinier  dates  the  manu- 
facture of  the  fine  grades  of  paper. 

In  the  production  of  cotton  and  woolen  goods,  paper,  and  some 
specialties,  Hartford  began  early  to  utilize  the  water-power  of  neigh- 
boring towns,  furnishing  both  capital  and  direction.  Many  of  the 
prosperous  villages  that  dot  the  country  drew  their  first  sustenance 
from  this  city,  and  are  still  bound  to  it  by  close  business  connections. 
She  was  herself,  however,  compelled  to  wait  for  the  advent  of  the 
steam  engine  before  entering  on  an  industrial  career  distinctively  her  own. 
Steam,  too,  changed  the  character  of  her  home  manufactures.  Few 
of  the  industries  catalogued  in  the  Gazetteer  of  18 19  became  per- 
manently domiciled  here.  A  mention  of  the  lines  that  have  drifted 
elsewhere  would  involve  a  repetition  of  most  of  the  list.  The  heavy 
concerns  of  to-day,  with  few  exceptions,  trace  their  lineage  to  the 
foundry  and  machine  shop. 

TRANSITION   TO  THE   AGE   OF   IRON   AND   STEEL. 

In  1820,  the  brothers  Alpheus  and  Truman  Hanks,  members  of 
a  family  noted  for  mechanical  talent,  bought  the  foundry  of  Good- 
win. Dodd    &:    Gilbert,   on  Commerce    street.     They   afterwards    added 


A    FATAL    MOVE.  83 

the  machine  shop  across  the  way,  which  had  been  started  by  Daniel 
P.  Copeland.  Here,  it  is  claimed,  were  made  the  first  iron  plow 
castings  in  the  country,  and  here  was  set  up  the  first  steam  engine  in 
the  city.  After  various  changes  Samuel  Woodruff  was  admitted  to 
the  partnership  in  1839,  an^  H.  B.  Beach  in  1845,  when  was  formed 
the  firm  of  Woodruff  &  Beach,  which  in  1853  was  merged  into  the 
Woodruff  &  Beach  Iron  Works,  a  joint  stock  company.  At  one 
time  the  establishment  rose  to  great  prominence  as  makers  of  heavy 
machinery  and  steam  boilers.  The  latter  branch  of  work  is  still  con- 
tinued on  a  smaller  scale  by  H.  B.  Beach  &:  Son. 

In  1834,  what  is  now  known  as  The  Phoenix  Iron  Works,  on  Arch 
street,  were  established  by  Levi  Lincoln,  author  of  several  valuable 
inventions,  and  ancestor  of  the  present  proprietors.  Elsewhere  will 
be  found  a  history  of  the  company,  and  it  is  mentioned  here  simply 
because  it  was  a  prominent  force  in  the  transitional  period  of  our 
manufactures. 

A  FATAL  MOVE. 

In  1852,  the  Sharps  Rifle  Manufacturing  Company  bought  from 
Christian  Sharps  the  patents  for  a  breech-loading  rifle,  and  con- 
tracted with  Robbins  &  Lawrence  of  Windsor,  Vermont,  to  make 
5.000  at  that  place,  and  also  to  build  a  factory  in  Hartford  with  a 
capacity  for  turning  out  20,000  a  year.  Its  actual  capital  was 
Si 00.000,  afterwards  increased  to  $125,000.  For  a  long  period  the 
company  was  highly  prosperous.  Out  of  profits  it  paid  for  the 
building  and  equipments,  returned  the  original  investment  to  the 
owners,  and  declared  large  dividends.  Owing  to  an  unfortunate  bar- 
gain with  the  promoter  of  the  enterprise,  to  take  effect  only  when 
it  should  reach  an  entirely  unexpected  degree  of  success,  but  which 
came  before  twenty  years  had  elapsed,  the  owners  dissolved  the 
company  about  1873  with  a  division  of  assets  among  the  share- 
holders. 

Another  combination  bought  the  patents  and  machinery.  In  an 
evil  hour,  the  new  company  yielded  to  the  blandishments  of  a  sister 
city,  surrendering  in  return  for  gilded  fruit  the  solid  advantages  of 
Hartford  to  move  elsewhere.     Largesses  proved  a  rueful  compensation 


84  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

for  the  loss  of  wise  supervision  and  trained  labor.  For  years  the 
name  painted  in  large  letters  on  deserted  walls  told  in  silence  the 
story  of  decay  and  death  —  a  monumental  warning  to  reject  the 
allurement  of  donatives  when  tempted  to  swap  certainties  for  uncer- 
tainties. 

INFLUENCE    OF     COLT'S    ARMORY. 

A  full  account  of  Colt's  Patent  Fire  Arms  Company  is  given  in 
the  proper  place.  Under  the  management  of  Colonel  Colt,  aided  by  the 
able  men  whom  he  gathered  around  him,  the  establishment  advanced, 
in  an  incredibly  short  period,  to  a  foremost  rank  among  the  leading 
houses  of  the  world.  The  position  was  won  not  more  by  the  great 
value  of  Colonel  Colt's  invention  than  by  the  excellence  of  workman- 
ship that  extended  to  every  detail  of  construction,  and  the  severity 
of  judgment  that  could  tolerate  no  remediable  imperfection  in  the 
mechanism  of  the  weapon,  or  in  the  machinery  by  which  it  was 
made.  Several  of  the  most  important  industries  of  Hartford  were 
organized  by  colonists  from  the  armory,  who  brought  to  new  lines  of 
effort  the  same  determination  to  produce  the  best  results  by  the  most 
efficient  means.  The  leaven  of  the  old  lump  pervades  the  new. 
Could  one  trace  downward  and  outward  hidden  and  intricate  streams 
of  influence,  he  would  find  that  the  lessons  inculcated  in  the  armory 
a  generation  ago,  and  since  taught  by  its  graduates,  have  been  largely 
instrumental  in  stimulating  other  manufacturers  here  to  set  up  simi- 
lar standards,  and  in  winning  for  Hartford  a  world-wide  reputation 
for  the  excellence  of  its  manufactured  goods.  Our  shops  are 
equipped  for  turning  out  fine  grades  of  work,  and  when,  as  occa- 
sionally happens,  strangers  offer  contracts  with  the  amiable  sugges- 
tion that  they  care  less  for  precision  and  finish  than  for  cheapness, 
they  are  politely  informed  that  they  have  come  to  the  wrong  town. 

FREEDOM     FROM     LABOR    TROUBLES. 

Honest  work  makes  faithful  workmen.  Skill,  intelligence,  and  prin- 
ciple develop  together  from  a  single  bud.  While  labor  troubles  have 
visited  many  places  during  the  last  few  years,  causing  great  waste  of 
capital  and  bitterness  of  feeling,  Hartford  has  wholly  escaped  the  con- 
tagion.    In  our  large  establishments  the   relations  between    employers 


FREEDOM  FROM  LABOR  TROUBLES. 


85 


and  employees  are  notably  cordial,  and  any  rash  agitator  who  should 
attempt  to  disturb  the  harmony  would  be  treated  by  all  with  con- 
tempt. Among  our  clear-sighted  mechanics,  rant  and  sophistry  pass 
for  just   what  they  are  worth. 

The  solidity  of  our  industries  will  become  still  more  apparent  from 
the  historical  sketches  which  follow.  Statistics  of  labor  and  wages 
are  brought  down  to  March,  1889,  and  although  the  occurrence  of  a 
presidential  election  always  acts  as  a  disturbing  influence  upon  busi- 
ness, the  gain  during  the  past  six  months  is  considerable.  It  will  be 
seen  from  actual  examples  that  the  location  is  exceedingly  favorable 
to  those  industries  which  must  depend  for  success  upon  inventive 
ingenuity  and  mechanical  skill. 


CHENEY    BUILDING    (MAIN    STREET). 


I 


present   /T\a9ufa<;t<jre$. 


COLT'S     PATENT     FIRE    ARMS     MANUFACTURING     COMPANY. 

AMUEL  COLT,  the  pioneer  in  introducing  into  Hartford  man- 
ufacturing on  a  large  scale,  through  personal  efforts,  perpetu- 
ated and  extended  by  the  able  assistants  whom  he  called 
around  him,  communicated  a  very  decided  impulse  to  the  modern 
industrial    system  of   the  world. 

He  was  born  in  Hartford,  July  19,  1814.  At  the  age  of  ten  he 
entered  his  father's  factory  at  Ware,  Mass.,  and  at  fourteen  was 
sent  to  a  boarding  school  at  Amherst,  but  preferring  to  gain  knowl- 
edge in  a  broader  field  he  shipped  before  the  mast  for  Calcutta,  in 
July,  1827,  and  on  the  voyage  made  a  model  which  held  the  germs 
of  the  future  revolver.  Returning  home,  he  again  entered  his  father's 
mill,  where,  under  the  tuition  of  Wm.  T.  Smith,  a  chemist  in  charge  of 
the  dyeing  and  bleaching  department,  he  obtained  a  practical  ac- 
quaintance with  chemistry,  becoming  quite  expert  as  a  manipulator. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen,  with  the  knowledge  and  dexterity  acquired 
in  the  primitive  laboratory  at  Ware,  he  made  his  second  venture 
alone  into  the  great  world  under  the  name  of  Dr.  Coult,  as  a  lec- 
turer upon  nitrous  oxide  gas.  His  tours  extended  from  Canada  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  covered  a  period  of  over  two  years.  He 
often  experimented  before  full  houses,  and  thus  obtained  the  means 
for  developing  the  invention  which  even  at  this  time  seems  to  have 
held  him  with  the  strength  of  an  absorbing  passion.  While  most 
boys  are  still  at  school,  or  under  the  tutelage  of  parents,  he  had 
visited  the  antipodes,  instructed  large  audiences  from  the  platform, 
and  multiplied  by  six  the  effectiveness  of  the  pistol.  In  February. 
1836,  he    obtained  a  United  States  patent  for  a  rotating  cylinder  con- 

(37) 


88  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

taining  several  chambers  to  be  discharged  through  a  single  barrel. 
The  previous  year  he  had  taken  out  patents  in  England  and  France. 
In  1836,  The  Patent  Arms  Manufacturing  Company  was  established  at 
Paterson,  N.  J.,  with  a  proposed  capital  of  $300,000,  about  one-half 
of  which  was  paid  in,  for  making  the  revolvers.  Colonel  Colt  put 
forth  strenuous  efforts  to  have  the  government  adopt  the  weapon, 
but  two  boards  of  United  States  officers  reported  against  it.  Mean- 
time, under  the  pressure  of  necessity,  many  were  sold  at  reduced 
prices  to  Texan  rangers,  and  played  an  important  part  in  winning 
Texan  independence.  Later  the  revolvers  were  used  by  a  few  of  our 
troops  with  great  effectiveness  in  the  Seminole  war,  the  savages  be- 
coming utterly  disheartened  on  finding  that  their  pursuers  could  keep 
up  a  deadly  fire  without  stopping  to  re-load.  Thus,  in  spite  of  offi- 
cial criticism  and  condemnation,  the  pistol  forced  recognition  of  its 
merits  by  actual  tests  on  the  battle-field:  But  the  demonstration 
came  too  late  to  save  the  Paterson  company  that  failed  in  1842, 
because  the  government  withheld  the  encouragement  which  the  pro- 
moters of  the  enterprise  had  a  right  to  expect  as  justly  due  to  an 
invention  of  such  obvious  value   to  the  nation. 

With  the  suspension  of  the  works  at  Paterson  the  manufacture 
of  the  weapon  stopped,  while  in  time  the  demand,  chiefly  from  the 
frontier,  completely  drained  the  market.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
.Mexican  war,  in  1847,  General  Taylor  sent  to  Colonel  Colt  for  a 
supply.  Although  none  were  then  to  be  had,  the  opportunity  so 
long  deferred  had  come  at  last.  Colonel  Colt  constructed  a  new 
model  containing  many  improvements,  and  having  contracted  to 
furnish  1000  for  $28,000,  made  them  in  an  armory  hired  for  the 
purpose  in  Whitneyville.  From  this  time  forward  his  genius  found 
an  ever-brpadening  field  for  its  exercise,  and  pecuniary  rewards 
rolled   in  with   the    momentum  of  a  mountain    torrent. 

The  following  year  Colonel  Colt  transferred  his  plant  to  Hart- 
ford, occupying  at  first  the  premises  west  of  the  present  Hartford 
..  Fire  Insurance  offices,  and  moving  soon  after  to  more  commodious 
quarters  on  Mechanic  street.  In  1852,  he  bought  a  large  tract  in 
the  south  meadows,  within  the  city  limits,  which  he  enclosed  with 
a  dyke  one  and  three-fourths  miles  long,  twenty  feet  high  on  the  low 
grounds,    and    one    hundred    feet    wide    at    the    base    narrowing    to    a 


COLT  S    PATENT    FIRE    ARMS    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 


89 


driveway  of  forty  feet  on  top.  Its  walls  strengthened  and  beautified 
by  willows  afford  sure  protection  against  the  heaviest  freshets  of  the 
Connecticut.  In  the  fall  of  1855,  tne  new  armory  was  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy. It  consists  of  two  parallel  buildings  five  hundred  feet  long, 
and  four  stories  high,  connected  at  the  center  by  a  building  500 
feet  long,  the  whole  resembling  in  form  a  capital  H.  Offices  and 
warerooms  were  added  at  convenient  locations.  To  keep  pace  with 
the  rapid  expansion  of  the  business,  in  1861  the  armory  was  practi- 
cally duplicated.  Within  the  enclosure  were  also  erected  dwellings 
for  the  workmen,  a  public  hall,  and  a  library.  On  the  same 
grounds  a  beautiful  memorial  church  has  been  built  since  the  death 
of  Colonel  Colt  by  Mrs.  Colt. 


CHURCH    OF    THE   GOOD   SHEPHERD. 
(  Memorial   Church. ) 


Like  most  born  leaders,  Col.  Colt  exercised  keen  discrimination  in 
the  choice  of  his  assistants,  whom,  in  spite  of  a  stern  discipline,  he 
held  with  hooks  of  steel  through  the  spirit  of  fairness,  kindness,  and 
generosity  that  pervaded  his  intercourse  with  them.  Quick  to  discover 
merit,  he  was  also  profusely  liberal  in  rewarding  it  when  devoted  to 
his    service.      The    combination    of    intellectual    forces   grouped   around 


90  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

him  as  the  business  developed  had  probably  never  been  equaled  in 
any  other  industrial  establishment.  His  own  personal  force  and  mag- 
netism were  so  irresistible  that,  when  a  penniless  youth  of  twenty-one, 
he  could  persuade  hard-headed  capitalists  to  invest  $300,000  —  then  a 
much  larger  sum  than  now  —  in  a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  his 
pistol.  The  project  failed,  not  because  his  enthusiasm  rested  on  an 
unsubstantial  or  insufficient  basis,  but  because  he  was  far  ahead  of 
the  age,  and  the  task  of  educating  the  public  in  time  to  avert  the 
catastrophe  was  too  heavy  for  a  single  boy.  When  at  length  pros- 
perity brought  opportunities  for  the  full  exercise  of  his  mental  re- 
sources, the  doors  of  cabinet  ministers  and  kings  flew  open  at  his 
bidding,  while  in  his  presence  the  ablest  recognized  their  peer. 

In  1849,  Col.  Colt  secured  the  services  of  Elisha  K.  Root,  a  ma-  / 
chinist  who  had  learned  the  trade  from  its  rudiments,  and  who  had 
been  the  master  mind  in  rejuvenating  and  modernizing  the  axe  factory 
at  Collinsville.  Placed  at  the  head  of  the  mechanical  and  manufac- 
turing departments,  Mr.  Root  brought  to  the  position  rare  inventive 
skill  guided  by  sound  judgment,  and  a  constant  purpose  to  reach  the 
best  results  by  the  simplest  methods.  Aided  by  other  bright  minds, 
he  was  indefatigable  in  devising  and  constructing  machinery  for  mak- 
ing all  similar  parts  of  the  revolver  interchangeable,  and  for  produc- 
ing them  cheaply.  A  full  treasury  furnished  the  workers  with  ample 
facilities  for  elaborating  their  ideas.  The  armory  became  a  genuine 
training  school  in  applied  mechanics,  where  absolute  excellence,  even 
if  beyond  human  reach,  was  the  only  recognized  standard.  Under  the 
tuition  of  Col.  Colt,  E.  K.  Root,  Samuel  H.  Bachelor,  Horace  Lord, 
and  other  teachers,  subordinates,  adopted  like  ideals,  and  as  they 
colonized  elsewhere,  many  in  positions  of  prominence,  have  been  noted 
for  the  superiority  of  their  work.  The  union  of  mental  and  pecuniary 
ability  enabled  the  establishment  to  push  far  ahead  of  anything  pre- 
viously accomplished  in  the  art  of  gun-making,  in  the  complete  adap- 
tation of  mechanical  means  to  ends.  Col.  Colt  cared  little  for  the 
first  cost  of  a  machine,  provided  it  operated  with  exactness  and 
economy,  well  knowing  that  the  most  perfect  appliances  pay  for  them- 
selves quickest. 

Perhaps  some  future  historian  will  show  the  deep  and  wide-spread 
influence    of    Colt's    Armory   as    an    educational    center,   by  giving   the 


COLTS  PATENT  FIRE  ARMS  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY.     91 

biographies  of  its  more  prominent  graduates.  For  Hartford  it  has 
furnished  organizers  and  presidents  to  the  Pratt  &  Whitney  Co.,  the 
Weed  Sewing  Machine  Co.,  the  Machine  Screw  Co.,  and  the  Billings 
&  Spencer  Co.;  to  Yale  University  it  has  given  a  distinguished  pro- 
fessor, and  going  farther  from  home  the  circle  widens  too  broadly  to 
be  outlined  within  our  limits.  One  case,  perhaps  an  extreme  one,  is 
the  type  of  many.  Amos  West,  formerly  head  blacksmith,  is  now 
principal  proprietor  of  extensive  iron  works  in  Cedar  Town,  Georgia, 
with  the  village  around  them,  and  of  the  railway  leading  thither. 

After  the  Mexican  war,  calls  for  the  revolver  poured  in  from  all 
quarters  of  the  earth  —  especially  from  our  own  frontier,  from  Cali- 
fornia, Australia,  the  Crimea,  and  the  East  Indies.  Meantime  the 
work  of  simplification  and  improvement  kept  pace  with  the  demand. 
From  the  department  for  the  manufacture  of  gun  machinery  several 
foreign  armories  were  largely  equipped. 

Col.  Colt  was  one  of  the  first  to  appreciate  the  possibilities  of  the 
submarine  torpedo,  having  begun  in  boyhood  experiments  which  were 
kept  up  at  intervals  through  life.  He  was  also  the  first  to  construct 
and  lay  a  submarine  telegraph  cable,  having  by  this  means,  in  1843, 
successfully  connected  New  York  City  with  stations  on  Fire  and 
Coney   Islands. 

Colonel  Colt  planned  to  add  to  the  armory  a  plant  for  the 
manufacture  of  cannon  on  a  large  scale,  but  did  not  live  to  carry 
out  the  idea.  Amid  herculean  labors  and  far-reaching  schemes  he 
died  January   10,  1862. 

The  Colt  Patent  Fire-Arms  Company  had  been  incorporated  in 
1856.  Elisha  K.  Root  was  now  elected  president,  and  held  the 
position  till  his  death,  July  5,  1865.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
presidency  by  the  present  incumbent,  Richard  W.  H.  Jarvis. 

February  5,  1864,  the  original  armory  was  destroyed  by  fire,  in- 
volving an  estimated  loss  of  $800,000  in  machines  and  $400,000  in 
stock,  besides  valuable  models  and  drawings.  The  buildings  were 
restored  fire-proof  on  the  old  foundations.  One  half  of  the  armory 
was    saved,   and  in  this  the  work  went  on  without  interruption. 

The  production  of  revolvers  increased  from  37,616  in  1859,  to 
111,616  in   1862,  and    136,579   in    1863.     In    the  years   1863   and   1864 


92  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

over  95,000  musket^were  also  made.  After  the  war  the  production 
declined  with  the  de«and. 

To  pistols  and  muskets  the  company  has  added  from  time  to 
time  the  manufacture  of  gun  machinery,  steam  engines,  sewing 
machines,  the  Gatling  gun,  and  other  specialties.  They  employ  500 
men  and  pay  over  $330,000  annually  in  wages. 

General  William  B.  Franklin  was  for  many  years  vice-president 
and  general  manager,  but  was  succeeded,  April  1,  1888,  by  Caldwell 
H.  Colt  as  vice-president,  and  by  John  H.  Hall,  formerly  of  Port- 
land, Connecticut,  as  general  manager. 

PHCENIX     IRON    WORKS. 

In  1832,  Levi  Lincoln,  ancestor  of  the  present  proprietors  of  the 
Phoenix  Iron  Works,  was  agent  and  manager  of  the  New  England 
Card  Company,  which  had  a  shop  on  Ann  Street.  At  one  time  the 
concern  had  on  its  books  the  names  of  nine  hundred  women  and 
children  scattered  about  the  country  who  were  employed  at  odd 
hours  in  setting  the  wire  teeth  of  the  cards  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  cotton  and  woolen  goods  and  for  other  purposes.  Mr.  Lincoln 
either  invented  or  greatly  improved  a  machine  for  punching  the  holes 
in  the  leather,  and  for  making  and  inserting  the  teeth  by  a  continu- 
ous process.  The  contrivance  put  an  end  to  the  domestic  industry. 
It  was  operated  at  first  by  dog-power.  Applying  the  same  mechan- 
ical principles,  Mr.  Lincoln  invented  the  hook-and-eye  machine.  He 
also  invented  the  molasses  gate  which  is  still  made  in  large  quanti- 
ties, and  has  never  since  been  materially  improved. 

In  1 841,  the  premises,  where  many  ideas  had  found  embodiment 
in  practical  forms,  were  turned  into  a  regular  machine  shop,  under 
the  firm  name  of  George  S.  Lincoln  &  Co.  In  a  short  time  they 
were  doing  a  large  business  in  the  production  of  lathes,  pulleys, 
shaftings,  and  small  tools.  Special  industries  were  then  springing  up 
over  the  State,  and  in  many  cases  the  projectors  came  to  George  S. 
Lincoln  &  Co.  for  their  machinery,  in  part  because  the  mechanical 
talent  of  the  concern  was  found  to  be  highly  valuable  in  eliminating 
defects  of  design,  and  in  adapting  adjustments  to  the  ends  required. 
At  one  time  gun  tools,  of  recognized  superiority,  were  made  in  large 
quantities  for  the  armories  of  the  United  States  and  Europe. 


THE    PHCENIX    IRON    WORKS.  93 

During  the  early  struggles  of  the  silk  industry  in  America,  a  good 
deal  of  silk  machinery  was  made  here.  About  the  year  1846,  Levi 
Lincoln,  in  association  with  William  Rogers,  became  deeply  interested 
in  experiments  for  discovering  the  utilities  of  electro-plating,  their 
studies  developing  into  a  new  and  valuable  line  of  business  in  the 
hands  of  Rogers  Brothers  and  derivative  houses. 

F.  A.  Pratt  was  superintendent  from  1854  to  '61,  and  on  the  list 
of  employe's  are  found  many  names  that  have  since  become  well 
known  as  inventors  or  managers. 

The  foundry  continued  to  grow  in  relative  importance,  and  for  the 
last  twelve  or  fifteen  years  has  been  the  leading  feature  of  the  busi- 
ness. The  firm  makes  a  specialty  of  architectural  iron  work,  includ- 
ing columns,  fronts,  lintels,  girders,  vault  and  jail-doors,  shutters, 
gratings,  -  balconies,  fences,  window-guards,  fire-escapes,  fountains, 
vases,  lawn  seats,  hydrants,  etc.  They  do  a  large  business  also  in 
machinists'  tools,  lathes,  planers,  upright  drills,  etc.,  and  in  shafting, 
pulleys,  and  gearing.  The  substantial  and  elegant  work  produced 
here  can  be  seen  in  the  State  Capitol,  in  the  buildings  of  Trinity 
College,  the  Connecticut  Mutual  Life,  the  ^Etna  Life,  and  in  hun- 
dreds of  other  widely  scattered  structures.  The  premises  extend 
from  54  to  70  Arch  Street.  They  employ  150  hands  and  pay  over 
$70,000  a  year  in  wages.  The  present  company  consists  of  Charles 
L.   Lincoln,  with   his  two  sons,  Charles  P.  and  Theodore  M. 


THE    CASE,    LOCKWOOD    &    BRAIXARD    COMPANY.  95 

THE     CASE,    LOCKWOOD    &    BRAINARD    COMPANY. 

Like  all  the  industries  of  Hartford  which  have  achieved  solid  and 
enduring  prosperity,  this  establishment  began  in  a  humble  way,  win- 
ning success  by  good  management  and  good  work.  Perhaps  the 
house  under  consideration  differs  from  its  compeers  most  widely 
in  the  length  of  the  period  through  which  the  leading  names  in 
the  management  were  associated  in  harmonious  and  effective  co-oper- 
ation. 

In  January,  1836,  Newton  Case  and  E.  D.  Tiffany  bought  for 
$4,500  the  printing  office  of  J.  H.  Wells,  located  where  the  Courant 
building  now  stands.  Mr.  Case,  the  capitalist  of  the  new  venture, 
had  only  S700,  but  friends,  who  had  observed  his  habits,  readily 
furnished  the  money  and  credit  to  close  the  trade.  A.  D.  Waters, 
a  partner  of  Mr.  Case  in  copper-plate  printing,  was  also  admitted 
into  the  firm.  Mr.  Tiffany,  foreman  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Wells,  took 
charge  of  the  mechanical  department,  while  Mr.  Case  kept  the 
accounts    and  managed  the  finances. 

The  original  firm,  known  as  Case,  Tiffany  &  Co.,  began  opera- 
tions with  eight  Wells  hand  presses,  one  Ramage  press,  and  with 
type  to  correspond.  Stereotype  plates  were  then  rare,  and  electro- 
types unknown.  An  Adams  press  of  the  first  patent  was  soon 
added  to  the  equipment,   and  for   two  years  was  run    by  hand-power. 

One  year  after  the  formation  of  the  firm  the  panic  of  1837  struck 
the  country.  During  the  months  that  preceded  the  storm  the  part- 
nership prospered,  reducing  their  indebtedness  to  Si, 000.  For  this 
sum  the  obligation  fell  due  at  a  time  of  critical  stringency  in  the 
loan  market,  when  Mr.  Wells  expressed  a  willingness  to  take  back 
the  property  in  settlement  of  the  claim.  Mr.  Case,  however,  had 
traveled  too  far  on  the  road  toward  success  to  surrender  or  retreat. 
He  succeeded  in  raising  the  amount,  and  the  final  payment  was  made. 

In  January,  183S,  Mr.  Waters  withdrew.  Early  in  the  same  year 
Messrs.  Case  &  Tiffany  bought  the  printing-house  of  Philemon  Can- 
field,*  then  the  largest  in  the  State,  and  admitted  Leander  C.  P>urn- 
ham,  one  of  the  workmen,   into  the  partnership.     The  purchase  added 


*  Philemon   Canfield  introduced  the  first  power  press  used  in   Hartford.      It  was  made  at 
Brattleboro,  Yt.,  and  run  by  horse-power. 


96 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


to  the   equipment  five   power   and   nine  hand  presses,  a  large  amount 
of  type,  and  a  steam  engine. 

Having  outgrown  their  first  quarters,  the  firm  leased  for  five  years 
the  premises  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Pearl  and  Trumbull  Streets, 
built  in  1793  for  a  county  jail  and  tavern.  The  many  alterations  re- 
quired were  quickly  made,  the  steam  engine  was  transferred,  and  in 
April,  1838,  the  new  office  was  opened.  In  1841  they  purchased  the 
property. 


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THE    "OLD    JAIL    AND    TAVERN 

Business  showed  few  signs  of  revival  till  1840,  when  indications  of 
improvement  began  to  reawaken  a  spirit  of  hopefulness  and  enter- 
prise. Believing  that  the  tokens  were  not  illusive,  the  firm  bought 
the  stereotype  plates  and  unsold  stock  of  the  Cottage  Bible,  —  a  com- 
mentary in  two  royal  octavo  volumes,  —  and  before  the  plates  were 
laid  aside,  had  sold  over  200,000  copies.  Here,  too,  for  the  first  fif- 
teen years  Webster's  Unabridged  Dictionary  was  printed  and  bound, 
keeping  from  six  to  eight  presses  constantly  at  work.  School-books 
were  manufactured  in  large  quantities,  one  having  reached  a  circula- 
tion of  116,000.  Success  with  the  Cottage  Bible  led  the  firm  on  till 
many  other  works  were  added  to  the  list  of  subscription  books  pub- 
lished by  them,  and  the  field  was  diligently  cultivated  with  satisfactory 
results. 

In  1848,  Mr.  Burnham  died.  In  1850,  the  remaining  members 
erected  on  Trumbull  Street,  south  of  the  "  old  jail,"  a  building  fifty 
by  sixty-four  feet,  five  stories  high,  placing  a  new  engine  in  the  base- 
ment, and  fitting  up  a  book-bindery  above.     In  1853,  James  Lockwood 


THE    CASE,    LOCKWOOD    &    BRAINARD    COMPANY.  97 

and  Albert  G.  Cooley  were  taken  into  the  partnership.  In  1857, 
Messrs.  Tiffany  and  Cooley  retired.  In  January,  1858,  Mr.  Leverett 
Brainard  became  a  partner  in  the  firm.  The  association  of  Messrs. 
Case,  Lockwood  &  Brainard  remained  unbroken  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Lockwood,  Jan.   13,   1888. 

The  war  so  added  to  the  volume  of  business  that  the  old  accom- 
modations became  inadequate,  and  in  1865  a  brick  building  was 
erected  just  west,  on  contiguous  ground.  After  the  demolition  of  the 
"jail"  the  next  year,  the  corner  building  was  erected.  This  is  five 
stories  above  the  basement,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  long  by 
forty  wide,  exclusive  of  an  L  for  stairways,  elevator,  and  closets. 

In  January,  1868,  the  name  was  changed  from  Case,  Lockwood  & 
Co.,  to  Case,  Lockwood  &  Brainard,  and  from  Jan.  1,  1874,  under  a 
special  charter  from  the  State,  the  establishment  was  organized  as 
"  The  Case,  Lockwood  &  Brainard  Co." 

In   1875,  the  "  Hutchings  Printing  House"  was  absorbed  entire. 

The  company's  extensive  plant,  on  Pearl  and  Trumbull  Streets, 
includes  the  most  approved  modern  machinery,  much  of  it  being 
specially  built,  and  adapted  to  the  various  kinds  of  work.  The 
printing  and  binding  of  illustrated  catalogues  for  manufacturers  is  a 
most  important  branch  of  the  business,  as  well  as  composition,  press- 
work,   and   binding   on   general   edition   work. 

The  amount  of  work  done  for  different  insurance  companies 
annually  is  enormous.  The  manufacture  of  blank  and  record  books, 
and  miscellaneous  binding  of  every  description,  constitute  an  extensive 
department  of  the  establishment.  Another  prominent  feature  of  the 
business  is  the  manufacture  of  calendar  "pads,"  —  daily,  weekly, 
and   monthly,  —  and   their   attachment,   for  lithographers    and   others. 

Recently  the  company  has  added  a  department  for  the  manu- 
facture of  diaries,  offering  to  the  trade  a  selection  from  three  hun- 
dred different  styles  of  the  American  Diary,  and  from  fifty  styles  of 
the  Calendar  Record. 

They  employ  two  hundred  hands,  and  disburse  over  $100,000 
annually  in  wages. 

The  executive  officers  are,  Newton  Case,  president ;  Marcus  A. 
Casey,  vice-president ;  Leverett  Brainard,  secretary  and  treasurer ; 
Edgar  P.  Cowles,  assistant  treasurer ;  John  Rearden,  assistant 
secretary.  6 


98  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

DRAKE    &    PARSONS. 

About  the  year  1835,  J.  Seymour  Brown  opened  a  book  bindery 
in  the  Catlin  building  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Asylum.  After  a 
short  tenancy  he  moved  into  the  new  block  erected  by  D.  F. 
VJRobinson,  next  north  of  the  Center  Church  conference  room,  occupy- 
ing the  entire  two  upper  stories  and  attic.  At  the  outset  his  busi- 
ness was  mainly  confined  to  binding  the  works  issued  by  D.  F. 
Rpbinson  &  Co.,  large  publishers  of  school  books,  in  which  specialty 
Hartford  not  only  took  the  lead  in  the  United  States,  but  held  it 
for  a  long  period. 

In  1841,  Sidney  Drake  became  a  partner,  and  the  firm  of  Brown 
tt  Drake  continued  till  1852,  when  J.  S.  Brown  sold  his  interest  to 
his  brother  Luther  R.  On  the  admission  of  John  G.  Parsons  in  1854, 
the  title  was  changed  to  Drake,  Brown  &  Co.  They  remained  in 
the  Robinson  building  nearly  twenty  years,  binding  for  D.  F. 
Robinson  &  Co.,  and  for  the  New  York  houses,  Pratt,  Woodford  & 
Co.,  and  Farmer,  Brace  &  Co.,  such  books  as  Olney's  Geography,  Com- 
stock's  Philosophy,  Chemistry,  Geology,  Mineralogy,  Botany,  and 
Physiology,  amounting  in  all  to  millions  of  volumes.  They  also  bound 
for  H.  F.  Sumner  &  Co.,  Case,  Tiffany  &  Burnham,  and  A.  S. 
Barnes,  who  began  active  life  in  Hartford,  and  here  laid  the  foundations 
for  the  great  publishing  house  of  A,  S.   Barnes  &  Co. 

Through  the  connection  of  Drake,  Brown  &  Co.,  as  binders,  with 
G.  &  C.  Merriam  of  Springfield,  the  way  was  opened  for  the  manu- 
facture, in  Hartford,  of  Webster's  Unabridged  Dictionary,  which  they 
bound  during  the  early  years  of  its  publication,  having  been  the  first 
to  introduce  here  with  this  work  the  flexible  back  —  a  great  improve- 
ment in  durability  and  convenience. 

In  1855,  the  firm  moved  to  a  building  owned  by  Willis  Thrill  on 
"~TLigh  street,  near  its  junction  with  Asylum.  Another  generation  of 
publishers  was  coming  upon  the  stage,  and  among  their  large  customers 
were  now  L.  E.  Stebbins,  House  &  Brown,  A.  C.  Goodman,  Pratt, 
Oakley  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  Edwards  of  St.  Louis,  and  others. 
Shortly  before  the  removal  Phillips  &  Sampson,  of  Boston,  began  a 
series  of  standard  English  poets  in  royal  octavo,  and  from  difficulty 
in    obtaining    the    style    of    binding  they    desired    at    home,    applied    to 


SMITH,    BOURN    &    COMPANY.  99 

Drake,  Brown  &  Co.,  sending  hither  the  printed  sheets  of  Byron's 
complete  works  —  the  first  volume  of  the  series.  So  well  pleased  were 
they  with  the  work  that,  as  the  others  were  issued  from  the  press, 
they  were  forwarded  to  this  firm  to  be  bound,  the  job  embracing 
many  thousand  copies  of  each.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  house  of 
Philips  &  Sampson  the  plates  of  the  series  passed  successively  into 
the  hands  of  about  a  dozen  different  publishers,  a  noteworthy  illustra- 
tion of  the  vicissitudes  of  business,  and  during  the  period  that  has 
since  elapsed  the  Hartford  firm  has  bound  for  all  of  them,  and  for 
some  continues  to  now. 

In  January,  1858,  Thrall's  building  was  burned,  when  the  stock, 
tools,  accounts,  and  records  of  the  firm  were  destroyed.  At  this 
juncture,  L.  R.  Brown  retired,  and  February  1st,  having  bought  the 
bindery  of  Silas  Andrus,  Drake  &:  Parsons  took  possession  of  their 
present    quarters,    No.    354    Asylum    street. 

War  literature  stimulated  to  intense  though  transient  activity 
the  subscription  book  business,  and  for  local  houses  Drake  & 
Parsons  did  most  of  the  binding.  During  their  occupancy  of  the 
Andrus  block,  they  have  done  work  for  about  sixty  different  pub- 
lishers, located  in  Hartford,  Springfield,  Boston,  Xew  York,  and 
Cincinnati,  binding  in  the  aggregate  6,000,000  volumes,  most  of 
them  large  octavo,  and  many  large  quarto  and  folio.  Among  those 
which  have  reached  a  large  circulation  are  Headley's  "  Great  Rebel- 
lion," 250,000  volumes;  A.  D.  Richardson's  "Field,  Dungeon,  and 
Escape,"  "  Beyond  the  Mississippi,"  and  "  Personal  History  of  U.  S. 
Grant,"  nearly  300,000;  "Innocents  Abroad,"  150,000;  "  Xurse  and 
Spy,"  160,000;  Parsons'  "Laws  of  Business,"  200,000;  Commentary 
on  the    Bible,    100,000;  Gough's    "Platform   Echoes."     125,000. 

During  an  existence  of  more  than  half  a  century,  the  firm  has 
borne  a  spotless  and  honorable  name,  built  upon  thorough  work 
and   upright    dealings. 

SMITH,     BOURN     &    COMPANY. 

This  firm  runs  back  to  1794,  when  the  business  was  established 
by  Norm  and  Smith.  From  an  early  period  it  assumed  and  has 
since  maintained  a  leading  position  in  the  manufacture  of  saddlery. 
Normand    2d    and    Thomas    Smith    succeeded    their    father.     Normand 


IOO  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

2d  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two,  having,  during  his  brief  career, 
been  sufficiently  successful,  not  only  to  accumulate  a  handsome  for- 
tune for  those  days,  but  also  to  build  and  give  as  a  free  church,  to 
the  present  Fourth  Congregational  Society,  the  structure  on  Main 
street,  which  was  afterwards  sold  for  secular  uses,  and  is  now  known 
as  the  Melodeon.  A  memoir  of  him  was  written  by  Joel  Hawes  for 
the  edification  of  the   Sunday-schools. 

In  1816  Smith,  Shelden  <Sc  Bigelow  opened  a  house  in  New 
Orleans,  and  were  supplied  with  goods  from  the  manufactory  of  the 
parent  establishment  in  Hartford.  From  the  connections  thus  formed 
the  business  became  almost  entirely  southern,  and  so  continued  till 
the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war.  In  winter,  when  New  Haven  harbor 
was  frozen,  goods  were  often  carted  over-land  to  New  York  to  be 
shipped  thence  by  sailing  packets  to  New  Orleans. 

Through  various  changes  since  the  death  of  the  founder,  Normand 
Smith,  one  or  more  of  his  sons  have  always  been  members  of  the 
partnership.  In  i860,  the  firm  became  Smith,  Bourn  &  Co.,  Mr.  S. 
Bourn  being  the  father  of  Benjamin  A.,  the  present  partner  and 
active  manager. 

Connections  which  had  endured  without  a  break  for  forty-four 
years  were  severed  by  the  rebellion.  At  once  the  house  turned  their 
attention  to  the  supply  of  military  equipments,  and  were  soon  em- 
ploying six  hundred  hands.  After  the  war  they  resumed  the  manu- 
facture of  saddlery,  and  gradually  built  up  a  large  northern  trade, 
which  has  since  been  extended  to  the  south,  not  as  formerly  through 
a  branch  house  located   there,    but   through    their    New    York    agency. 

From  the  north  corner  of  Temple  and  Main  streets  the  site  in 
part  of  the  Cheney  Block,  the  firm  moved  their  works  about  1849 
to  334  Asylum,  the  lower  floor  of  which  they  have  used  for  a  sad- 
dlery-store since  the  completion  of  their  commodious  factory  on  Sig- 
ourney  street  in  1884.  They  employ  190  hands,  and  disburse  over 
$100,000  in  wages  yearly. 


JEWELL    BELTING    COMPANY. 


IOI 


JEWELL    BELTING    COMPANY. 

Pliny  Jewell,  Sr.,  born  at  Winchester,  N.  H.,  in  1797,  came  to 
Hartford  in  1845,  and  began  active  life  in  his  new  home  by  running 
a  tan-yard  near  Little  River,  on  what  is  now  Bushnell  Park.  For 
several  generations  his  ancestors  in  the  male  line  had  been  tanners, 
so  that  he  brought  to  the  work  all  the  knowledge  and  skill  of  the 
time.  In  1848,  he  opened  a  shop  on  Trumbull  Street  for  making 
leather  belts,  having  been  the  third  person  in  America  to  engage  in 
this  special  business.  The  father  and  his  sons  after  him  did  much 
to  educate  the  manufacturers  of  the  United  States,  and  indirectly  of 
Europe,  to  substitute  this  means  for  the  conveyance  of  power  in  place 
of  the  costly  and  cumbersome  system  of  gearing,  then  largely  in  use. 
For  a  number  of  years  work  in  the  shop  was  performed  almost  en- 
tirely by  hand,  the  few  mechanical  appliances  employed  being  rude 
and  primitive.  Four  of  the  five  sons — Pliny.  Jr..  Marshall,  Charles  A., 
and  Lyman  B.  —  were  successively  admitted  into  the  partnership,  which, 
under  the  name  of  P.  Jewell  &:  Sons,  soon  won  a  world-wide  reputa- 
tion for  the  magnitude  and  excellence  of  its  product. 

In     1863,    the    firm    bought    the    plating    factory    of    the     Rogers 


102  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

Brothers,  at  the  corner  of  Trumbull  and  Hicks  streets,  which  they 
enlarged  and  partially  rebuilt.  The  structure  is  now  185  by  44  feet, 
rive  stories  high,  with  an  L  of  three  stories.  With  an  abundance  of 
room  and  steam  power  and  machinery  —  invented  mostly  by  manu- 
facturers of  shoes,  but  adapted  by  the  firm  to  the  requirements  of 
belt-making  —  the  business,  under  the  stimulus  imparted  by  the  war, 
expanded  with  great  rapidity. 

About  1856,  they  established  a  tannery  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  where, 
for  twenty-five  years,  their  leather  was  chiefly  prepared.  At  present 
they  are  operating  large  tanneries  both  at  Rome,  Ga.,  and  Jellico, 
Tenn.,  whence  their  materials  for  belting  are  now  almost  exclusively 
drawn.  With  the  destruction  of  forests  in  Michigan,  it  has  been 
found  more  profitable  to  use  the  works  at  Detroit  for  the  production 
of  other  grades  of  leather,  the  proximity  of  an  abundance  of  oak 
giving  to  the  southern  locations  an  advantage  which  greatly  outweighs 
the  disadvantages. 

In  1869,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-two,  Pliny  Jewell,  Sr.,  passed 
away,  having  lived  to  see  the  establishment  he  founded  the  largest  of 
the  kind  in  the  country,  and  bequeathing,  as  a  still  more  precious 
inheritance,  the  record  of  a  noble  and  spotless  life.  After  a  brief 
illness,  Marshall  Jewell  followed,  in  February,  1883,  at  the  high  tide 
of  vigorous  manhood,  crowned  with  honors  and  beloved  by  a  wide 
circle  of  devoted  friends.  Having  served  three  terms  as  governor  of 
Connecticut,  he  was  appointed  United  States  minister  to  the  Court  of 
St.  Petersburg  in  1S73.  While  there  he  negotiated  the  trade-mark 
treaty  with  Russia,  and  discovered  the  process  of  making  scented 
Russian  leather,  and  was  afterwards  instrumental  in  introducing  its 
successful  manufacture  into  this  country.  The  following  year  he  was 
recalled  to  take  the  position  of  postmaster-general  in  the  cabinet  of 
president  Grant.  At  Washington  he  endeavored  to  conduct  the  affairs 
of  the  department  on  strict  business  principles,  becoming,  in  the  exe- 
cution of  the  policy,  the  terror  of  lazy  clerks  and  dishonest  contract- 
ors. Questionable  schemes  found  in  him  a  watchful  critic,  and 
fraudulent  ones  an  unrelenting  foe.  During  his  administration  the 
efficiency  of  the  service  was  greatly  increased,  and  the.  expenditures 
diminished.  He  plowed  up  old  abuses  without  stopping  to  count  the 
personal    cost    or    consequences,    and    introduced    new    methods    which 


THE   JEWELL    BELTING    COMPANY.  IO3 

worked    so    admirably    that    no    successor    has    dreamed    of    changing 
them. 

But  the  path  of  the  reformer  in  public  affairs  does  not  lead 
through  green  pastures  or  beside  the  still  waters.  The  mild  approval 
of  good  men  —  a  tenuous  support  in  the  wear  and  weariness  of  pro- 
longed conflict  —  opposes  feeble  resistance  to  the  organized  hostility 
that  strikes  back  through  a  thousand  open  and  secret  channels.  In- 
dividual efforts  to  checkmate  the  semi-respectable  predatory  class  that 
encamp  in  force  around  most  public  treasuries  from  which  many  mil- 
lions are  annually  disbursed,  end  in  final  martyrdom,  except  at  infre- 
quent intervals  when,  under  the  provocation  of  some  special  enormity, 
the  people  rise  against  the  offenders  in  short  but  possibly  sharp  and 
decisive  spasms  of  indignation. 

July  14,  1876,  Gov.  Jewell  retired  from  the  cabinet.  In  18S0,  he 
was  called  to  take  the  chairmanship  of  the  republican  national  com- 
mittee, and  performed  a  leading  part  in  directing  the  contest  which 
ended  in  the  election  of  President  Garfield. 

Harvey  Jewell,  the  only  son  not  a  member  of  the  partnership, 
practiced  law  in  Boston,  and  was  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of 
Alabama  claims. 

Under  an  act  of  incorporation  granted  by  the  State  in  1881,  the 
Jewell  Belting  Co.  was  organized,  in  1883,  as  successors  to  P.  Jewell 
&:  Sons.  All  the  stock  is  owned  by  the  family  and  a  few  employes. 
About  one  million  of  dollars  is  invested  in  the  business,  one-third  in 
Hartford,  and  the  rest  in  conducting  ancillary  operations  elsewhere. 
The  executive  officers  are,  Pliny  Jewell,  president;  Lyman  B.  Jewell, 
vice-president;  Charles  A.  Jewell,  treasurer;  and  Charles  E.  Newton, 
secretary. 

A  closely  related  industry  is  the  Jewell  Pin  Company,  being  largely 
owned  and  managed  by  the  same  parties.  It  was  chartered  in  1881, 
with  a  capital  of  $60,000.  The  factory,  in  the  rear  of  the  belting 
works,  consists  of  two  buildings,  each  eighty  by  twenty-five  feet,  and 
two  stories  high.  The  machines  are  all  made  on  the  premises,  and 
each  one  is  capable  of  turning  out  160  pins  a  minute.  As  forty  are 
in  use,  if  all  were  running  they  would  produce  3,840,000  in  a  day  of 
ten  hours.  By  a  single  process  the  wire  is  cut,  headed,  sharpened, 
and    polished.       After    passing    through    a    process    of    whitening    and 


104  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

cleansing  in  bulk,  the  pins  are  put  upon  papers  by  other  machines 
equally  ingenious.     The  company  makes  over  thirty  sizes. 

Pliny  Jewell,  president;  F.  B.  Wilson,  manager  and  secretary;  and 
Charles  A.  Jewell,  treasurer. 

The  Belting  and  Pin  Companies  together  employ  137  men  and  16 
girls,  and  pay  out  over  $70,000  a  year  in  wages. 

JAMES    L.     HOWARD    &,    CO. 

James  L.  Howard  came  to  Hartford  in  1838,  and  in  1841  formed 
a  partnership  with  Edmund  Hurlburt,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hurl- 
burt  &  Howard,  dealers  in  carriage  and  saddlery  hardware,  with  a 
store  in  the  building  next  north  of  the  City  Hotel.  After  the  lapse  of 
three  or  four  years,  Mr.  Howard  bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Hurlburt, 
and  for  a  while  continued  the  business  alone,  but  subsequently  ad- 
mitted his  brothers,  one  after  another,  to  the  partnership,  which  then 
became  known  as  James  L.  Howard  &  Co.  The  firm  moved  to 
Asylum,  near  Main,  about  1848,  when  there  were  no  stores  and  but 
few  scattered  residences  within  the  city  limits  westward. 

The  firm  was  the  first  in  the  United  States  to  enter  in  a  broad 
and  systematic  way  upon  the  manufacture  of  railway  car  trimmings, 
and  soon  seeing  the  advantage  of  devoting  its  entire  energies  to  the 
development  of  this  branch,  gave  up  the  saddlery  hardware  line.  For 
a  long  period  it  was  the  leading  house  of  the  country  in  furnish- 
ing railway  supplies,  and  still  retains  a  very  prominent  position, 
though  located  several  degrees  eastward  of  the  railway  center. 
Many  of  the  notable  inventions  which  add  to  the  comfort  and 
safety  of  the  traveler  and  to  the  ornamentation  of  the  coach,  have 
been   introduced   by   this   establishment. 

In  1846,  the  firm  built  their  extensive  block  and  factory  on  Asy- 
lum street,  near  the  station,  where  the  business  has  since  been  car- 
ried on,  and  in  1876  was  incorporated  under  a  special  charter  from 
the  State  as  James  L.  Howard  &  Co.  It  employs  75  men,  and  pays 
$40,000    a   year   in  wages. 

James  L.  Howard,  president ;  George  E.  Howard,  vice-president ; 
Frank  L.  Howard,  treasurer ;  Charles  P.   Howard,  secretary. 


THE    WM.    ROGERS    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 


105 


■  —  ■--^z^L3^^^-^3£^\MSSi>--   -  ~:   _    _^^_v.  ■■^£Liv  ,^'--:.:'  '  w-fc;  ~4J."  >if /" 


THE    WM.    ROGERS    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

Hartford  is  the  birthplace  of  the  electro-plating  industry  in 
America,  as  applied  to  table  ware,  Asa  H.  and  William  Rogers,  under 
the  partnership  name  of  Rogers  Brothers,  having  in  1846  started  the 
business  in  a  cellar  at  No.  6  State  street.  In  185 1,  they  formed 
a  joint  stock  company,  and  built  the  factory  at  the  corner  of  Trum- 
bull and  Hicks  streets,  now  occupied  by  P.  Jewell  &  Sons.  In 
1857,  William  Rogers  left  the  Rogers  Brothers  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, and  started  Rogers,  Smith  &  Co.,  on  Mechanic  street,  and  in 
1862,  both  the  above  companies  ceased  to  do  business.  In  1865, 
William  Rogers  again  entered  the  field  as  the  Wm.  Rogers  Manu- 
facturing Company,  on  the  corner  of  Front  and  Grove  streets,  and  in 
1870  William  H.  Watrous,  with  his  uncle  Asa  H.  Rogers,  a  member 
of  the  original  partnership,  opened  a  factory  on  Asylum  street,  under 
the  name  of  the  Rogers  Cutlery  Company.  In  1879,  tne  two  con" 
cerns  made  a  contract,  running  for  twenty-five  years,  to  do  a  joint 
business  under  the  exclusive  control  of  Y\ 'illiam  H.  Watrous,  who  be- 
came owner  of  one-half  the  capital  stock  of  The  Wm.  Rogers  Manu- 
facturing Company,  and  has  since  been  president,  treasurer,  and  sole 
manager  of  the  united  interests. 

Having  outgrown  the  premises  at  the  corner  of    Front    and    Grove 


106  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

streets,  the  union  moved,  in  1887,  into  their  present  quarters,  Nos.  66-80 
Market  street,  where  they  have  ample  room  and  facilities.  Through 
both  elegance  of  artistic  designs,  and  superior  thickness  and  dura- 
bility of  plating,  they  have  largely  added,  since  1879,  to  the  reputation 
of  the  Rogers  imprint,  already  esteemed  so  valuable  that  costly  legal 
battles  have  been  fought  for  the  trade-mark.  Their  sales  exceed  half 
a  million  a  year,  and  are  constantly  enlarging.  The  market  for  their 
goods  is  not  confined  to  the  United  States  and  Canada,  but  extends 
to  Cuba,  Mexico,  South  America,  Australia,  and  Europe,  —  in  short,  to 
all  parts  of  the  civilized  world  where  the  best  grades  are  demanded. 
They  build  their  own  machinery.  If  all  the  blanks  used  in  this 
establishment  were  made  in  Hartford,  the  production  would  require  a 
factory  as  large  as  Colt's  armory,  and  would  add  several  thousand  to 
the  population  of  the  city. 

They  employ  over  140  hands,  and  pay  $50,000  annually  in  wages. 

The  officers  are,  William  H.  Watrous,  president,  treasurer,  and 
general  manager,  and  George  W.  Watrous,  secretary.  The  capital 
stock  of  $25,000  is  held  in  three  or  four  hands. 

THE     PITKIN     BROTHERS    &    CO.      IRON     WORKS. 

Organized  in  1849  as  Bidwell,  Pitkin  &  Co.,  and  changed  to  the 
present  form  in  i860,  this  firm  ranks  among  the  most  prominent  in 
the  country  in  the  manufacture  of  steam  boilers,  iron  and  steel-plate 
work,  steam  engines,  feed-water  heaters,  and  steam  supplies.  Their 
low  pressure  steam  and  hot  water  heating  apparatus  has  a  large  sale 
throughout  the  northern  States,  and  to  a  less  extent  in  Canada. 

Of  the  forty  churches  heated  and  ventilated  by  the  system  of 
which  they  are  the  inventors,  the  contracts  in  some  of  the  largest, 
including  Dr.  Hall's  on  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City,  were  awarded 
to  them  on  the  merits  of  the  system  over  numerous  competitors,  with 
little  regard  to  other  bids  either  above  or  below. 

In    1873,  the  board  of  American  engineers*  at  the  Vienna  exposi- 

*'  The  following  extracts  are  from  a  letter  written  by  T.  R.  Pickering,  engineer 
U.  S.  Department,  Vienna  Exposition,  bearing  date,  Vienna,  July  23,  1873: 

.  .  .  "Your  boiler  was  subjected  to  the  customary  hydrostatic  test,  and  it  was 
declared  by  the  officer  in  charge  to  be  the  only  one  of  the  entire  collection  at  this 
exposition  which  stood  the  cold  water  test  without  leaking.  And  now  the  boiler 
has  been  in  constant  use  nearly  two  and  a  half  months,  and  has,  to  the  surprise 
of  tvery  one  (including  myself),  supplied  our  department  with  all  the  steam  we 
need,  and  that  with  very  easy  firing  and  poor  coal."  ...  "I  am  now,  more 
than  ever,  impressed  with  the  economy  and  safety  of  this  style  of  boiler." 


IOS  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    COXX. 

tion,  solicited  Pitkin  Brothers  &  Co.  to  send  thither  a  seventy-horse- 
power boiler  to  run  the  machinery  of  the  American  department.  The 
boiler  did  such  excellent  service  that  it  brought  a  high  award  and 
was  purchased  by  a  foreign  house  for  its  own   use. 

When  the  Connecticut  Steam  Heating  Co.  was  organized  in  1854 
to  manufacture,  under  the  patents  of  Stephen  J.  Gold,  the  first  steam 
heating  apparatus  ever  invented  wherein  the  water  returns  to  the 
boiler  by  gravity  without  mechanical  appliances,  A.  P.  Pitkin,  one  of 
the  directors,  was  paid  two  thousand  dollars  a  year  to  visit  the  shop 
at  New  Haven  one  day  in  each  week.  Every  system  where  the  water 
thus  returns  embodies  the  vital  principle  of  Gold's  invention. 

As  a  dealer  in  lead  pipe,  A.  P.  Pitkin  early  recognized  the  perils 
from  lead  poisoning,  and  applied  himself  to  the  task  of  discovering  a 
practical  remedy.  After  much  travel  and  no  small  difficulty  in  finding 
a  house  that  would  consent  to  fit  up  to  do  the  requisite  mechanical 
work,  he  succeeded  in  1855  in  introducing,  as  a  substitute,  the  first 
galvanized  pipe  ever  used  in  cities  for  the  distribution  of  water, 
Hartford  having  led  the  way  in  the  adoption  of  the  method.  It  has 
since  come  into  almost  universal  use,  and  millions  of  feet  are  made 
annually. 

The  firm  have  also  been  large  manufacturers  and  builders  of  gas 
works,  having  established  over  thirty  plants  in  cities,  towns,  and  vil- 
lages. They  have,  besides,  recently  built  eighteen  of  the  Loomis 
patent  water  and  fuel  gas  works. 

Of  the  workmen  who,  during  the  past  forty  years,  have  learned 
their  trade  of  Pitkin  Brothers  &  Co.,  eight  have  engaged  in  success- 
ful business  for  themselves  in  various  cities. 

For  a  long  period  the  hours  which  A.  P.  Pitkin  could  snatch  from 
sleep  and  the  cares  of  business  were  mostly  devoted  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  genealogy  of  the  Pitkin  family.  The  elegant  volume  em- 
bodying the  fruits  of  all  this  toil,  published  in  1887,  will  remain  an 
enduring  monument,  built  by  a  loyal  son  to  preserve  the  records  of 
a  distinguished  line. 

The  firm,  consisting  of  Albert  P.,  Norman  T.,  and  Charles  A. 
Pitkin,  employs   100  men,  and  pays  $62,000  yearly  in  wages. 


THE    PRATT    &    WHITNEY    COMPANY.  IO9 

THE    PRATT   &   WHITNEY    COMPANY. 

In  1852,  Francis  A.  Pratt  came  to  Hartford  to  take  a  position  in  the 
pistol  factory  of  Colonel  Colt  at  the  solicitation  of  Samuel  H.  Bachelor, 
one  of  the  subordinate  chiefs  in  the  establishment.  In  1854,  he 
accepted  the  superintendency  of  the  Phoenix  Iron  Works,  and  accom- 
panied by  Amos  W.  Whitney,  his  life-long  associate,  as  assistant,  re- 
mained with  the  firm  till  1861.  The  year  before  closing  the  con- 
nection both  of  the  young  men  resolved  to  open  a  shop  of  their 
own,  and  accordingly  in  the  summer  of  i860  hired  a  room  on  Potter 
street,  doing  some  of  their  first  work  for  the  Willimantic  Linen  Com- 
pany. The  next  February  they  were  burned  out  by  a  fire  which 
caught  on  the  contiguous  premises,  but  a  month  later  were  settled  in 
Wood's  Building  in  the  rear  of  the  Times  office,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  spread  through  one  room  after  another  till  all  the  available 
space  was  outgrown  by  the  expansion  of  the  business.  In  1862,  Messrs. 
Pratt  &  Whitney  took  into  the  partnership  Monroe  Stannard  of 
New  Britain,  each  contributing  $1,200,  and  the  association  has  since 
remained  unbroken. 

The  firm,  in  1865,  erected  the  first  building  on  the  present  site,  a 
structure  of  four  stories  containing  forty  thousand  square  feet  of 
flooring.  It  was  ready  for  occupancy  the  following  March.  From 
time  to  time  others  have  been  added  till  the  plant  now  occupies 
about  three  acres,  equipped  throughout  with  the  most  approved  appli- 
ances for  protection  against  fire,  for  the  comfort  of  the  hands, 
and  for  the  convenient  and  economical  dispatch  of  work.  The  prop- 
erty lies  on  a  narrow  strip  of  land  between  Park  river  and  the 
tracks  of  the  Consolidated  and  of  the  New  England  railways,  about 
one-third  of  a  mile  from  the  passenger  station.  Side  tracks  admit 
heavy  freights  directly  to  the  doors. 

Beginning  with  the  manufacture  of  machine  tools,  gun  tools,  and 
tools  for  the  makers  of  sewing  machines,  the  firm  has  gradually  ex- 
tended its  lines  till  a  partial  catalogue  of  its  product  fills  hundreds  of 
pages.  Here,  in  applied  mechanics,  the  resources  of  science  and  art 
have  been  long  and  conscientiously  devoted  to  the  task  of  embodying 
the  ideal  in  the  real.  A  poor  piece  of  work  was  never  knowingly 
allowed  to  be  done  on  the  premises.     To  the  mind  of  every  one  con- 


IIO  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

versant  with  the  business  the  imprint  of  the  establishment  signifies 
simplicity,  strength,  precision,  elegance,  durability,  and  complete  adapta- 
tion of  means  to  ends.  Essential  as  is  the  question  of  prices  and 
profits,  it  has  here  always  ranked  secondary  to  the  question  of  ma- 
terials and  workmanship. 

On  taking  an  inventory  shortly  after  removal  from  Wood's  Building 
to  the  new  factory,  the  firm  found  that  net  assets  of  $3,600,  in 
1S62,  had  grown  during  the  interval  of  four  years  to  the  handsome 
sum  of  $75,000,  a  striking  evidence  of  good  management  amid  general 
prosperity.  At  this  time  Roswell  F.  Blodgett  and  Seth  W.  Bishop 
were  admitted  to  an  equal  interest  with  the  other  members  in  the 
partnership.  During  the  next  three  years  they  made  and  put  in  the 
business  a  clean  profit  of  $100,000.  July,  1869,  under  a  charter  from 
the  State,  The  Pratt  &  Whitney  Company  was  incorporated  with  a 
capital  of  $350,000,  afterwards  increased  from  earnings  to  $500,000. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Franco-German  war,  in  1870,  an  agent 
of  the  company  visited  Prussia,  and  discovered  that  both  imperial  and 
private  gun  factories  were  equipped  with  inferior  tools  and  machinery, 
and  that  the  national  armories  were  bare.  He  brought  the  merits  of 
The  Pratt  &:  Whitney  Company  to  the  attention  of  a  Berlin  engineer, 
who  became  deeply  interested,  and  who  a  few  months  later  called 
Mr.  Pratt  thither.  The  latter  started  at  once,  and  after  an  absence  of 
six  weeks,  two  of  which  were  spent  at  Berlin,  returned  to  Hartford 
with  orders  from  the  German  Government  for  gun  machinery  to  the 
value  of  $350,000. 

Within  the  next  three  years  Mr.  Pratt  made  three  trips  to  Berlin, 
taking  orders  and  delivering  to  the  government  goods  worth  over  a 
million  and  a  quarter  dollars.  While  the  panic  of  1873  prostrated  the 
industries  of  the  United  States,  the  company  were  kept  busy  on 
European  orders  till   1875. 

From  Hamburg,  the  port  of  delivery,  the  war  office  made  distri- 
bution of  the  machinery  to  three  different  imperial  gun  factories.  By 
a  supplementary  contract  The  Pratt  &  Whitney  Co.  agreed  to  super- 
intend its  erection  and  to  instruct  native  mechanics  how  to  operate  it. 
So  delighted  were  the  authorities  with  the  results,  that,  departing  from 
precedent,  they  forwarded  a  letter  from  which  the  following  is  an 
extract : 


THE    PRATT    &    WHITNEY    COMPANY.  Ill 

"  The  Pratt  &  Whitney  Co.  has  furnished  the  royal  armories  of 
Spandau,  Erfurt,  and  Danzig  with  plants  of  machinery  which  execute 
the  work  with  such  nicety  and  precision  as  to  save  one-half  the 
wages,  and  to  render  the  government  in  no  small  degree  independent 
of  the  power  and  skill  of    the  workmen.  " 

The  company  made  an  invaluable  contribution  to  science  not  less 
than  the  mechanical  arts  by  producing,  after  years  of  effort  and  at 
great  expense,  a  machine  for  exact  and  uniform  measurements.  The 
troubles  which,  from  lack  of  standard  gauges,  beset  every  large  shop, 
and  the  growing  demand  for  the  production  of  interchangeable  bolts 
and  nuts,  early  in  the  sixties  led  to  the  general  agitation  of  the  sub- 
ject among  mechanical  engineers,  especially  those  connected  with  the 
building  and  repair  shops  of  railways,  with  the  view  of  finding,  if 
possible,   a  remedy  for  the  evil. 

For  a  long  time  the  discussion  brought  no  practical  results.  At 
length,  early  in  1879,  William  A.  Rogers,  then  professor  of  astron- 
omy at  Harvard  College,  aided  by  George  M.  Bond,  a  graduate  of 
the  Stevens  Institute  of  Technology,  and  both  backed  by  the  skill 
and  resources  of  The  Pratt  &  Whitney  Company,  commenced  a  series 
of  efforts,  continued  through  the  three  following  years,  to  determine 
the  exact  length  of  the  standard  foot,  and  they  also  elaborated  a 
comparator  for  absolutely  correct  measurements  within  a  limit  of 
5000-0"  °f  an  ineh-  When  they  began  the  length  of  the  yard  and  of 
its  subdivisions  varied  endlessly  with  the  number  of  yard  sticks.  In 
London  and  Paris,  Professor  Rogers  obtained  a  reliable  transfer  of 
both  the  yard  and  the  metre,  and  with  the  co-operation  of  the  U.  S. 
coast  survey,  the  most  delicate  and  exhaustive  comparisons  of  the 
standard  bars  prepared  by  him  for  the  use  of  the  company,  with 
the  standard  yard  designated  "  Bronze  No.  n,"  were  completed,  thus 
giving  it  a  set  of  standards  upon  which  entire  reliance  can  be  placed. 
Both  the  methods  pursued  and  the  results  attained  have  been  en- 
dorsed by  the  highest  authorities.* 

Among  the  benefits  secured  a  few  may  be  mentioned  by  way  of 
illustration.  Railways  now  find  it  practicable  to  have  all  bolts  and 
nuts    of    any    one    size  perfectly    interchangeable.       The   adoption     of 


*  See  report  of  the  Committee  on  Gauges,  of  the   American    Society  of  Mechani- 
cal Engineers,  presented  at  the  meeting  in  New  York  City.   November,  1882. 


I  1 2  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

definite  diameters  for  the  centers  and  tires  of  locomotive  driving- 
wheels  has  reduced  the  number  of  sizes  from  infinitude  to  six.  The 
production  of  pipe  and  fittings  has  been  brought  to  uniformity. 
Standard  gauges  for  these  and  other  uses,  too  many  to  be  enu- 
merated, are  made  by  The  Pratt  &  Whitney  Co. 

At  the  time  of  this  writing,  there  are  on  the  books  of  the  com- 
pany unfilled  German  orders  for  about  twenty  machines,  and  orders 
from  London  for  gun  tools  and  sample  guns  of  new  patterns.  For 
the  United  States  government  they  are  making  the  Hotchkiss  rapid 
firing  gun  from  one  to  six  pounders.  They  manufacture  the  Gardner 
machine  guns,   owning  the  patents. 

Net  earnings  exceeding  the  amount  of  the  capital  have  been 
applied  to  construction  and  machinery,  and  still  the  pressure  of  an 
enlarging  business  outstrips  the  facilities  for  doing  it. 

The  company  employ  700  men,  and  pay  over  $400,000  yearly  in 
wages. 

The  officers  are  Francis  A.  Pratt,  president ;  R.  F.  Blodgett,  sec- 
retary ;  M.   W.   Graves,  treasurer ;  and  Amos  Whitney,    superintendent. 

THE    WEED     SEWING-MACHINE     COMPANY. 

The  original  machine  patented  by  T.  E.  Weed  was  made  at 
Nashua,  N.  H.,  and  later  at  St.  Johns,  N.  B.  The  company  control- 
ling the  patents  (first  formed  in  West  Winsted,  Conn.,  Feb.  4,  1863) 
moved  to  Hartford  in  July,  1865,  and  reorganized  with  Jonathan  S. 
Niles  as  president,  George  M.  Welch  as  secretary  and  treasurer,  and 
George  A.  Fairfield  as  superintendent.  A  contract  for  building  15,000 
machines  was  then  placed  with  Pratt,  Whitney  &  Co.,  who  were  located 
in  Wood's  Building,  near  the  junction  of  Main  and  Grove  streets.  It 
is  quite  probable  that  this  order  had  a  part  in  influencing  the  firm 
to  erect  a  factory  of  their  own  during  the  year.  In  May,  1886,  a 
second  large  contract  for  machines  was  entered  into  with  the  same 
parties,  reinforced  by  George  A.  Fairfield  and  Charles  E.  Billings. 
Succeeding  Mr.  Niles,  Homer  Blanchard  was  president  from  1867  to 
August,  1876;  George  A.  Fairfield  from  August,  1876,  to  July,  1881; 
J.  W.  Beach  from  July,  1881,  to  1887;  and  on  the  death  of  Mr. 
]  leach,  George  H.  Day,  the  treasurer,  was  elected  president  also. 

In   May,   1869,   a  Part  OI   trie  present  property  on   Capitol   avenue 


114  THE    CITY    0F    HARTFORD,    COXX. 

was  purchased  of  E.  M.  Archibald,  agent  for  the  British  government. 
Owing  to  the  great  popularity  of  the  Weed  machine,  and  to  the  in- 
creasing volume  of  orders,  Sharps'  Rifle  Factory  adjoining  was  leased, 
in   187 1,  for  a  term  of  five  years,   and  purchased  in   1874. 

In  the  special  line  on  which  the  company  began,  it  has  kept  fully 
abreast  of  the  times  by  the  number  and  value  of  its  improvements 
and  inventions.  While  the  name  remains  to  perpetuate  the  fame  of 
the  founder,  not  a  feature  of  the  original  machine  is  retained.  The 
second  combination  of  contrivances  have  largely  followed  the  first,  as 
will  the  present  when  anything  better  can  be  found  to  take  their 
place.  As  a  result  of  ceaseless  efforts  to  produce  the  best,  the  de- 
mand from  all  quarters  of  the  globe  continues.  Ten  years  ago  or 
more,  intensity  of  competition  led  the  trade  generally  to  adopt  the 
installment  plan  in  distributing  their  goods,  and,  with  hardly  an  ex- 
ception, manufacturers  suffered  heavily  from  the  viciousness  of  the 
system.  The  Weed  now  sell  directly  to  customers  or  dealers  without 
the  intervention  of  traveling  salesmen  and  expensive  branch  offices, 
giving  the  public  the  benefit  of  these  economies  in  reduction  of  price. 

Its  reputation  for  fine  and  durable  work,  its  large  plant  and  effi- 
cient corps  of  native  American  mechanics,  brought  to  the  establish- 
ment and  to  Hartford,  in  1878,  a  new  industry  which,  in  magnitude 
and  importance,  overshades  the  production  of  sewing-machines,  large 
as  this  continues  to  be.  When,  in  May  of  that  year,  Col.  A.  A.  Pope 
rode  circuitously  from  the  station  to  the  office  of  the  company  on  a 
bicycle  of  English  make,  excited  throngs  swarmed  into  the  streets 
through  which  he  passed  to  catch  a  view  of  the  strange  vehicle. 
Hundreds  of  boys  took  up  the  line  of  pursuit,  only  to  find  themselves 
in  a  few  minutes  left  hopelessly  behind.  As  the  Colonel  disappeared 
through  the  door,  the  surprise  and  curiosity  were  transferred  from  the 
outside  to  the  inside  of  the  factory.  The  object  of  the  visit  was  not 
only  to  place  a  preliminary  order,  but  to  arrange  for  the  manufacture 
of  similar  machines  on  a  large  scale.  The  interview,  with  the  busi- 
ness connections  growing  out  of  it,  have  proved  eminently  satisfactory 
to  both  parties. 

The  first  lot  of  fifty  bicycles  was  turned  out  in  season  for  the  fair 
and  races  at  Framingham.  Mass..  Sept.  17,  1878.  From  that  time 
onward    the    output,    yearly    increasing,    has    amounted    to    many    thou- 


THE    WEED    SEWING-MACHINE    COMPANY.  115 

sands,  and  the  line  has  been  extended  to  tricycles,  "  safeties,"  and 
"tandems."  A  very  large  proportion  of  the  machinery  used  in  the 
manufacture  has  been  invented  by  men  belonging  to  the  establish- 
ment, and  is  made  on  the  premises.  Many  knotty  mechanical  prob- 
lems have  temporarily  interrupted  the  onward  flow  of  development, 
but  the  ingenuity  of  officers  and  men  has  proved  adequate  to  their 
solution. 

From  their  utility  as  a  means  of  quick  and  pleasant  travel,  these 
machines  and  their  accessories,  little  known  ten  years  ago,  and  popu- 
larly regarded  as  a  curious  but  idle  toy,  have  become  the  staple  of  a 
very  large  trade.  Among  the  different  styles  on  the  market,  the 
"  Columbias "  steadily  hold  the  lead  through  unequaled  excellence  of 
design  and  workmanship,  not  less  than  through  the  enterprise  of  the 
separate  company  which  promotes  their  use  and  sale. 

Struck,  while  passing  through  the  factory,  by  the  elaborate  care 
taken  to  adjust  the  axis  of  the  wheel  so  that  it  should  coincide  ex- 
actly with  the  mathematical  center,  the  writer  inquired  of  president 
Day  in  reference  to  the  advantages  gained  by  this  extreme,  not  to 
say  costly,  precision.  He  replied  that  a  slight  deviation  from  accuracy 
might  pass  unnoticed  for  years,  but  in  time  would  certainly  appear 
and  shorten  the  life  of  the  machine.  To  the  intelligent  and  scrupu- 
lous care  bestowed  upon  the  minutest  details  of  construction,  the 
company  largely  owes  its  reputation  and  present  prosperity.  Wher- 
ever tried,  at  home,  on  the  racing  path,  or  on  continental  journeys, 
their  work  never  disappoints  the  owner. 

Since  1880,  the  Weed  Company  has  often  been  solicited  to  en- 
large its  facilities  and  make  similar  machines  for  other  concerns ;  but 
having  experienced  the  benefit  of  close  union  of  effort  between  maker 
and  seller,  based  on  singleness  of  interest,  it  has  rejected  many  offers 
of  contracts,  and  in  adhering  to  a  single  line,  has  been  assured  a 
continuous  and  steadily  increasing  business. 

In  the  winter  of  1887-8,  the  company  opened  a  large  and  airy 
reading-room  on  the  sunny  side  of  the  building  for  use  during  the 
noon  hour.  Besides  the  nucleus  of  a  library,  which  will  be  added  to 
from  time  to  time,  it  is  furnished  with  the  leading  mechanical  papers 
of  the  country,  and  with  the  dailies  of  the  city.  Coffee  of  the  best 
quality  is  also  served  to  the  workmen  at  cost  or  a  trifle  below. 


u6 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


The  company  employs  250  hands,  and  pays  over  $150,000  a  year 
in  wages.  Its  officers  are,  George  H.  Day,  president  and  treasurer ; 
F.   E.   Belden,  secretary;    and   John    Knous,   superintendent.      Capital, 

$240,000. 


THE     BILLINGS    &    SPENCER    COMPANY. 

The  history  of  this  company  gives  the  story  of  the  creation  of  a 
new  and  valuable  industry/  Drop  forgings  were  probably  introduced 
into  the  United  States  by  Samuel  Colt,  and,  to  a  limited  extent, 
were  soon  afterwards  made  use  of  at  the  armories  in  Springfield, 
Mass.,  but  the  devices  were  crude,  the  work  imperfect,  and  the  lim- 
its of  practical  application  narrow.  For  a  long  time  the  latent  possi- 
bilities in  the  system  waited  for  the  right  man  to  develop  them.  It 
remained  for  Charles  E.  Billings,  organizer  and  president  of  this 
company,  by  numerous  improvements  and  inventions,  to  raise  it  from 
a  lowly  position  as  an  unimportant  adjunct  of  the  machine  shop 
to  its  present  dignity. 

Having  worked  six  years  at  Colt's  Armory  as  tool-maker  and  die- 
sinker,  Mr.  Billings  was  called  in  1862  to  the  gun  factories  of  E. 
Remington   &    Sons,    where,    in    the   teeth  of    doubt    and     mild    oppo- 


THE    BILLINGS    &    SPENCER    COMPANY.  WJ 

sition,  he  built  up  a  plant  for  drop  forgings  which  increased  the 
efficiency  of  labor  forty  fold  in  the  production  of  several  parts  of 
their  pistol.  In  1S65,  he  returned  to  Hartford,  acting  for  the  next 
three  years  as  superintendent  of  the  manufacturing  department  at 
Weed's  Sewing  Machine  Company.  After  a  short  absence  spent  at 
Amherst,  Mass.,  he  again  settled  in  Hartford  in  1869,  and  organ- 
ized the  Billings  &  Spencer  Company,  which,  at  the  outset,  experi- 
enced severe  reverses  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Roper  Sporting 
Arms,  but  which,  in  1870,  took  up  drop  forgings  as  a  specialty. 
and    soon    advanced   to    a    commanding    position. 

By  this  method  bars  of  iron,  steel,  or  copper  can  be  trans- 
formed into  pieces  of  required  shape  and  size,  with  rapidity  and 
precision.  The  dies  are  made  in  the  shop  from  blocks  of  the  best 
bar  steel,  ranging  from  three  and  one-half  to  fourteen  inches  square. 
In  these  are  cut  the  form  of  the  article  to  be  forged,  generally  one- 
half  of  the  thickness  in  the  lower  and  the  other  half  in  the  upper 
die,  and  both  are  hardened  to  the  proper  temper.  One  is  then 
keyed  fast  to  the  base  or  anvil,  and  its  counterpart  to  the  hammer 
of  the  drop.  Where  the  form  to  be  produced  is  complicated,  red- 
hot  bars  are  submitted  to  blows  of  the  hammers  in  a  series  of 
dies  till  the  exact  figure  desired  is  reached.  Guided  by  the  up- 
rights of  powerful  frames,  hammers,  weighing  from  three  to  fifteen 
hundred  pounds,  fall  from  one  to  six  feet.  A  few  rapid  blows  com- 
plete this  part  of  the  process.  The  forgings  are  then  passed  on  to 
other  rooms  in  the  shop  to  be  finished,  polished,  and  in  many 
cases  to  be  assembled  into  tools.  At  the  present  time  the  com- 
pany has    thirty-eight  drop  hammers. 

The  catalogue  of  the  company  embraces  a  large  variety  of 
standard  articles,  made  of  sizes  to  suit  the  trade,  and  carried  in 
stock.  It  includes  screw-plates,  dies,  reamers,  wrenches,  rachet  drills. 
lathe  dogs,  clamps,  lathe  tools,  combination  pliers  admitting  a 
wide  range  of  adjustment,  vises,  surface  gauges,  sewing-machine 
shuttles,  thumb-screws,  pistol  frames  and  barrels,  breech-loading 
shot  guns,  solid  steel  eye-bolts,  carbon  tongs,  and  similar  articles, 
many  being  the  invention  of  Mr.  Billings  himself.  His  adjustable 
pocket-wrench,  graduated  to  ^V  of  an  inch,  is  specially  suited  to  the 
bicycle,   and  nearly  200,000  have   been    sold.     Manufacturers    of   elec- 


I  1 8  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

trical  apparatus,  sewing  machines,  gas  fittings,  guns,  pistols,  pumps, 
and  other  standard  goods,  have  many  pieces  which  enter  into  their 
product  forged    here. 

An  all-pervasive  force  in  the  development  of  the  enterprise  has 
been  the  inventive  talent  of  Mr.  Billings.  A  single  instance  will  illus- 
trate :  While  visiting  the  Edison  Electric  Works  in  1886,  he  noticed 
the  method  of  making  commutator-bars.  These  are  pieces  of  copper 
set  at  an  angle  to  each  other.  The  horizontal  blades,  thin  and  wedge- 
shaped,  separated  from  each  other  by  mica,  asbestos,  or  some  other 
non-conducting  substance,  are  placed  side  by  side  around  the  shaft  of 
the  dynamo,  and  bound  firmly  together.  Electricity  is  generated  by 
the  friction  of  metallic  brushes  against  the  edges  of  the  bars,  revolv- 
ing at  high  speed.  The  current  passes  through  the  upright  arm,  and 
thence  into  coils  of  wire  for  storage  and  transmission. 

The  bars  were  made  in  two  pieces,  united  by  pins  and  solder.  In 
the  conversation  which  arose  the  electrician  of  the  works  expressed 
the  opinion  that  they  could  not  be  produced  otherwise.  On  returning 
home,  Mr.  Billings  cut  the  dies,  and  in  two  months  sent  to  the  Edison 
Company  an  invoice  of  bars  forged  in  a  single  piece  from  pure  copper, 
and  having  a  homogeneous  molecular  structure  throughout.  The  fibres 
also  run  parallel  with  the  generated  currents  of  electricity,  and  the 
material  is  of  the  greatest  possible  density.  By  this  invention  the 
cost  of  the  bars  was  greatly  diminished,  and  their  efficiency  increased. 
They  are  coming  into  general  use. 

The  works  are  located  between  Lawrence  and  Broad  streets.  The 
main  buildings  are  covered  with  corrugated  iron.  The  dies  are  stored 
in  fire-proof  brick  vaults,  warmed  sufficiently  by  steam  to  prevent 
rust,  and  separated  by  a  safe  distance  from  the  other  buildings.  As 
an  insurance  of  $80,000  was  formerly  carried  on  the  dies  alone,  the 
wisdom  of  the  step  is  manifest.  The  manufactured  stock  is  also 
stored  in  another  fire-proof  vault  similarly  kept  dry  and  warm. 

The  company  employs  about  80  hands,  and  pays  $50,000  a  year 
in    wages. 

The  capital  of  the  company,  organized  under  a  liberal  charter,  is 
$125,000,  with  the  privilege  of  increasing  to  $300,000.  Its  officers  are, 
Charles  E.  Billings,  president  and  superintendent;  E.  H.  Stocker, 
secretary :  Lucius  H.  Holt,  treasurer ;  and  F,  C.  Billings,  assistant 
superintendent. 


THE    CUSHMAN    CHUCK    COMPANY.  A.    S.    COOK.  II9 

THE    CUSHMAN     CHUCK     COMPANY. 

The  manufacture  of  chucks  was  begun  in  [863,  by  A.  F.  Cush- 
man,  in    a    small    way,  without    capital    in    money,  but    with    a    goodly 

capital  in  ingenuity,  industry,  perseverance,  and  a  determination  which 
surmounted,  one  by  one,  the  many  obstacles  that  obstructed  the  path- 
way to  success.  Alone,  he  often  worked  late  into  the  night,  perfect- 
ing his  invention  and  preparing  the  earlier  -samples  for  the  market. 
As  the  value  of  the  article  became  more  widely  known,  the  sales 
enlarged,  till  the  establishment  now  employs  over  sixty  men,  and  finds 
its  new  factory  on  Cushman  street  somewhat  cramped  for  the  grow- 
ing volume  of  business.  The  goods  are  shipped  directly  to  the  prin- 
cipal cities  of  the  world,  nearly  one-third  of  the  total  product  going 
to  London,  Paris,  and  Berlin.  In  1885,  it  was  converted  into  a  stock 
company,  with  a  capital  of  $80,000,  all  of  which,  except  a  few  shares, 
is  held  by  the  original  owner. 

A.  F.  Cushman,  president;  E.  L.  Cushman,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

A.     S.   COOK. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Cook  entered  the  pistol  factory  of  Colonel  Colt, 
where  he  remained  as  workman,  foreman,  and  contractor  for  the 
next  fifteen  years.  After  a  short  residence  in  Canada,  he  returned 
to  Hartford,  and  in  1869  began  to  build  machinery  for  the  Na- 
tional Screw  Company  of  this  city.  The  American  Screw  Company 
of  Providence  had  long  held  a  practical  monopoly  in  the  United 
States,  but  before  the  expiration  of  their  main  patent  their  young 
rival  in  Hartford  reached  equally  good  results  by  dissimilar  devices. 
The  new  company  built  a  factory  on  Sheldon  street,  and  in  three  or 
four  years  attained  a  degree  of  success  which  caused  the  stock  to 
command  a  premium  of  140  per  cent.  However,  in  the  combina- 
tions which  followed,  the  owners  sold  to  their  Providence  competitor 
in   1875,   and  the   plant  was  removed  elsewhere. 

For  five  years  Russell  &  Erwin  of  New  Britain  had  been  the 
selling  agents  of  the  National  to  the  mutual  advantage  of  both 
parties.  At  the  expiration  of  the  contract  the  newly  elected  mana- 
gers of  the  National  declined  to  renew  it,  when  the  firm  determined 
to   enter   the  field    on    their    own    account,    and     accordingly,  in    1875, 


120  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

Mr.  Cook  built  for  them  a  plant  with  a  capacity  for  producing 
ten   thousand   gross    of   screws    in  ten    hours. 

Mr.  Cook  invented  the  header  for  forming  the  heads  on  the  wire, 
and  the  combined  threader  and  pointer  for  cutting  the  spiral  on  the 
blank,  and  at  the  same  time  producing  the  gimlet-point.  The  processes 
are  covered  by  two  broad  patents  taken  out  by  Mr.  Cook,  and  are 
admitted  by  leading  manufacturers  to  be  the  most  effective  contriv- 
ances for  the  purpose  ever  devised. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Cook  moved  to  the  new  building  of  The  Pratt  & 
"Whitney  Co.,  but  the  next  year  returned  to  the  armory,  where  he 
has  since  remained.  The  mechanical  excellence  of  the  work  turned 
out  in  this  shop,  reinforced  by  the  improvements  and  inventions  of 
Mr.  Cook,  so  broadened  the  demand  for  his  machinery  that  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  equip  many  large  screw  factories  both  in  the 
United  States  and  in  Europe. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Cook  began  to  manufacture  Stephens'  patent  parallel 
vise,  and  has  since  produced  over  thirty  thousand.  Among  other 
leading  articles  he  has  also  made  pipe-tapping  machines,  bolt-cutters, 
die-threaders,  lag-screw  threaders,  dynamos,  electric  lamps,  etc.  For 
some  of  the  goods  the  export  demand  has  been  quite  important. 

Mr.  Cook  is  assisted  by  his  sons  M.  F.  and  John  F.,  both  graduates 
of  the  high   school,  and  both   practical  mechanics. 

He  employs  ordinarily  about  50  men,  and  pays  $40,000  yearly  in 
wages. 

HARTFORD    MACHINE    SCREW    COMPANY. 

The  Hartford  Machine  Screw  Company  was  organized  July  24, 
1876,  on  a  paid-up  capital  of  $40,000,  with  the  privilege  of  increase 
to  $200,000.  For  a  number  of  years  the  business  had  been  prose- 
cuted by  a  partnership,  and  had  failed  to  be  remunerative.  While 
its  affairs  languished  in  a  condition  of  uncertainty  respecting  the  ulti- 
mate outcome,  George  A.  Fairfield,  then  president  of  the  Weed  Sew- 
ing-Machine Company,  at  the  solicitation  of  friends,  and  under  the 
assurance  of  adequate  pecuniary  support,  consented  to  take  charge  of 
the  enterprise.  A  charter  was  at  once  obtained  from  the  State,  and 
a  corporation  formed.  Mr.  Fairfield  was  elected  president,  and  Daniel 
Morrell  secrets rv  and  treasurer.     For  some  time  Mr.  Fairfield  continued 


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122  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

at  the  head  of  the  Weed,  giving  incidental  attention  to  the  screw 
business,  which  was  carried  on  in  a  small  room  under  the  same  roof. 
As  the  possibilities  of  the  system  became  more  apparent  he  resigned 
the  presidency  of  the  Weed,  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and 
energies  to  the  exclusive  service  of  the  Screw  Company,  ably  sec- 
onded by  Mr.  Morrell,  a  man  of  wide  experience  and  ample  means, 
and  also,  for  several  years  after  the  reorganization,  by  Christopher  M. 
Spencer,   as  superintendent  and  mechanical  engineer. 

The  original  patents  were  taken  out  by  Mr.  Spencer,  more  widely 
known,  perhaps,  as  the  inventor  of  the  rifle  that  bears  his  name. 
Since  his  retirement  many  valuable  improvements  and  inventions 
have  been  made  by  the  officers  and  employes  of  the  establishment, 
which  have  so  added  to  the  efficiency  of  the  process  and  to  the  per- 
fection of  the  work,  that  the  company  and  its  licensees  now  largely 
control  the  production  by  automatic  devices  of  machine  screws  and 
kindred  work. 

The  sizes  range  from  the  heaviest  engine  and  mill  work  to  the 
smallest  parts  entering;  into  the  construction  of  a  watch,  —  screws  so 
minute  that  to  the  unaided  eye  they  resemble  grains  of  dust. 

Many  of  the  largest  manufacturers  in  the  United  States  and  Eu- 
rope have  adopted  the  system,  paying  a  compensation  and  subject  to 
restrictions  satisfactory  to  the  parent  company.  Its  members  control 
and  run  for  western  trade  a  large  branch  at  Elyria,  Ohio.  They  are 
also  somewhat  interested  in  a  corporation  recently  organized  in  Hali- 
fax,  England,  which  has  secured  the  patents  for  Great  Britain. 

Up  to  the  time  of  Mr.  Spencer's  first  invention,  machine  screws 
were  made  either  by  the  old  and  tedious  method  of  turning  and 
threading  on  an  engine  lathe,  or  by  the  use  of  a  monitor-head  ma- 
chine, run  by  hand,  and  each  requiring  a  separate  operative.  By  the 
process  as  elaborated  in  Hartford,  an  unskilled  hand  can  successfully 
attend  from  five  to  fifteen  machines,  according  to  the  size  and  char- 
acter of  the  work.  On  large  screws,  the  amount  accomplished  by  an 
automatic  and  monitor  differ  but  little,  the  greater  productiveness  of 
the  former  depending  on  the  larger  number  a  single  workman  can 
run.  On  small  screws,  however,  and  other  minute  pieces,  the  superior 
efficiency  of  the  automatic  is  hardly  more  marked  in  the  quantity 
than   in   the  quality  of  its  results. 


HARTFORD  WOVEN"  WIRE  MATTRESS  COMPANY.        123 

The  coarser  and  cheaper  grades  of  goods,  such  as  enter  into  the 
construction  of  buildings  and  ordinary  hardware,  are  not  made  here, 
the  efforts  of  the  company  being  restricted  to  the  higher  qualities  of 
screws,  pins,  and  other  turned  work,  used  in  the  manufacture  of  loco- 
motives, engines,  machine  tools,  electrical  appliances,  printing  presses, 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  guns  and  pistols,  gas  fixtures,  clocks 
and  watches,  optical  and  surgical  instruments,  jewelry,  and  for  a  wide 
variety  of  similar  purposes. 

Almost  as  diverse  as  the  ends  to  which  they  are  applied  are  the 
materials  employed,  including  iron,  steel,  zinc,  brass,  copper,  German 
silver,  sterling  silver,  and  gold.  Here  are  consumed  annually  not  less 
than  1,500  tons  of  bar  iron,  500  tons  of  Bessemer  steel  in  the  rough, 
750  tons  of  bright  Bessemer  steel  rods,  and  250,000  pounds  of  brass. 
Of  the  metals  enumerated,  this  establishment,  which  moves  on  its 
course  so  noiselessly  that  many  of  our  people  are  almost,  if  not  quite, 
unaware  of  its  existence,  probably  uses  a  larger  amount  than  any 
other  concern  in  the  city,  if  not  in  the  State.  The  number  of  active 
customers  now  on  its  books  approximates,  if  it  does  not  exceed,  three 
thousand. 

The  factory,  built  in  1880,  and  owned  by  the  company,  is  located 
at  476  Capitol  avenue.  Aside  from  dividends,  net  earnings  have  gone 
largely  into  the  plant  and  imorovements,  till  the  property  is  now  un- 
derstood to  be  very  valuable.  Of  the  capital  stock  of  $100,000,  not 
a  share  ever  appears  on  the  market,  and  quotations  of  price  are 
unknown. 

They  employ  250  men  and  25  women,  and  disburse  5125,000  an- 
nually in  wages. 

The  officers  are,  George  A.  Fairfield,  president  and  treasurer; 
Daniel  Morrell,  secretary;  J.  K.  Lanman,  assistant  treasurer:  and  C. 
H.  Prentice,  assistant  secretary. 

The  company '  is  now  breaking  ground  for  extensive  additions  to 
the  buildings  and  plant. 

HARTFORD    WOVEN    WIRE     MATTRESS    COMPANY. 

A  few  Hartford  gentlemen,  in  viewing  the  attractions  of  a  local 
fair,  were  so  impressed  with  the  merits  of  a  woven  wire  mattress  on 
exhibition,  that,    not    long    afterwards,   Henry  Bissell,   the    late  William 


124  THE    CITY    0F    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

Matson,  Stiles  D.  Sperry,  and  George  B.  Hawley,  bought  the  patent 
on  the  weaving  then  owned  by  one  Wegman.  Important  changes 
and  improvements  were  needed  to  make  the  article  commercially  val- 
uable. A  clumsy  iron  frame  brought  its  weight  up  to  200  pounds, 
but  J.  N.  Farnham,  who  was  employed  for  the  purpose,  invented  a 
light  and  portable  frame,  which  reduced  the  weight  of  the  entire  mat- 
tress to  sixty-five  pounds. 

In  1869,  the  purchasers  of  the  patent,  with  S.  T.  Wolcott  and 
Charles  Green,  organized  a  company,  and  the  following  year  began 
the  manufacture  of  the  woven  wire  mattress  in  a  small  room  in  The 
Case,  Lockwood  &  Brainard  Co.  building  on  Pearl  street.  In  187 1, 
the  late  George  C.  Perkins  of  this  city  bought  a  controlling  interest, 
and  succeeded,  by  advertising  and  push,  in  creating  a  wide  demand 
for  the  goods,  and  thus  in  establishing  a  permanent  and  profitable 
business.  His  energy  and  skill  in  management  are  recognized  by 
his  successors  as  potent  factors  in  bringing  to  the  enterprise  quick 
and  notable    prosperity. 

Mr.  Perkins  died  in  September,  1875.  W.  J.  Myers  was  elected 
treasurer  in  March,  1876,  and  retired  in  March,  '84.  Henry  Roberts 
became  secretary  in  March,   1880,  and  president  in  January,   1884. 

The  company  remained  in  its  original  quarters  on  Pearl  street  till 
1886,  when,  to  meet  the  demands  of  a  growing  trade,  it  built  a  fac- 
tory of  its  own  at  the  corner  of  Laurel  street  and  Capitol  avenue. 
At  the  time  of  removal,  it  was  employing  about  fifty  men,  and  the 
number  has  since  been  doubled.  The  popularity  of  the  mattress  in- 
creases with  use,  and  they  are  now  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  globe 
where  the  comforts  of    civilization  are   known. 

Besides  the  above  specialty,  the  company  also  produces  a  large 
line  of  iron  and  brass  bedsteads  for  private,  hospital,  asylum,  and 
institution  use  generally  ;  also  woven-wire  door  mats,  a  recent  inven- 
tion, which  have  met  a  flattering  reception.  They  deal  heavily  in 
woven  wire  car  seats  and  back  cushions,  cots,  cribs,  folding  bedsteads, 
and  various  other  articles  embodying  wire  fabrics. 

The  machinery  for  weaving  the  wire  is  simple,  ingenious,  and  in 
operation  never  fails  to  interest  the  spectator.  The  wire  itself  is 
drawn  from  the  best  imported  steel  rods,  specially  made  for  the  pur- 
pose.    Of  this  each   mattress  contains    about  one   mile  in  length,    and 


THE    GROVE    WORKS    DYE-WOOD    MILLS.  1 25 

the    tensile    strain     on    each    square     foot    is    about    fifteen    hundred 
pounds. 

The  factory  is  thoroughly  equipped,  having,  among  other  conven- 
iencies,  a  side  track  by  which  car-load  lots  are  received  and  shipped 
at  the  door.  Its  present  capacity  enables  it  to  turn  out  500  mat- 
tresses a  day,  in  addition  to  other  specialties,  and  it  owns  an  abun- 
dance of  land  adjoining  for  the  further  extension  of  the  plant.  It 
employs  over  100  hands,  and  disburses  about  $35,000  yearly  in 
wages.  Capital  $60,000.  Officers,  Henry  Roberts,  president  and 
treasurer  ;  J.  E.  Godbee,  secretary. 

THE     HARTFORD    RUBBER    WORKS    COMPANY. 

The  factory  of  this  company,  built  in  1881  by  John  W.  Gray,  is 
located  beside  the  tracks  of  the  New  York,  New  Haven  &  Hartford 
and  New  England  railways,  about  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  the 
Hartford  station,  and  close  to  the  Parkville  station  of  the  latter  road. 
They  began  with  the  manufacture  of  a  superior  grade  of  goods  for 
mechanical  purposes,  such  as  bicycle  tires,  steamship  pump  valves, 
pure  moulded  boiler  gaskets,  hose,  tubings,  etc.  Recently  a  full  line 
of  druggists'  rubber  sundries  has  been  added.  The  business  has 
prospered  from  the  outset.  Capital,  $20,000.  Incorporated  July,  1888. 
John  W.  Gray,  president;  Henry  H.  Francis,  secretary;  John  S.  Gray, 
treasurer. 

THE    GROVE    WORKS     DYE-WOOD     MILLS. 

The  manufactory  on  Potter  street,  200  by  65  feet,  and  three  stories 
high,  is  massively  built  for  the  storage  of  material  and  the  operation 
of  the  powerful  machinery  required  in  the  preparation  of  ground  dye- 
woods.  The  woods  here  chipped,  ground,  and  made  ready  for  the 
market  are  brought  from  Africa,  Brazil,  Central  America,  and  the 
West  Indies,  and  include  logwood,  camwood,  barwood,  limawood,  fus- 
tic, sanderswood,  and  Nicaragua.  To  a  large  degree  the  work  is  per- 
formed by  automatic  machinery  invented  expressly  for  the  use  of  the 
establishment.  The  production  of  extract  of  indigo  of  a  highly  supe- 
rior quality  has  long  been  somewhat  of  a  specialty.  New  England 
manufacturers  of  textile  fabrics  are  the  principal,  but  by  no  means 
the  only,  patrons  of  the  mills.  The  annual  production  reaches  about 
$300,000,  constituting  an  important  branch  of  the  business  of  Beach 
&   Co.,  to  whom  it  belongs. 


126  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

THE     HARTFORD     HAMMER    COMPANY. 

The  Hartford  Hammer  Company,  incorporated  December,  1880, 
manufacture  hammers,  sledges,  and  mauls  from  the  best  crucible  cast 
steel.  In  1887,  at  the  corner  of  Windsor  and  Suffield  streets,  the 
company  built  a  factory  150  by  50  feet,  which  is  equipped  in  all  de- 
partments with  the  most  approved  machinery.  The  goods  are  of 
superior  quality,  and  from  the  home  office  are  not  only  distributed 
throughout  the  United  States,  but  are  largely  sold  to  Australia  and 
Great  Britain.  Through  agencies  handling  the  foreign  trade  they 
have  also  been  supplied  to  the  South  American  markets.  They  em- 
ploy 50  men,   and  pay  $15,000  yearly  in  wages. 

Samuel  L.  Way,  president;  Isaac  Bragaw,  treasurer;  Charles  L. 
Way,   secretary. 

THE    PLIMPTON    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

Linus  B.  Plimpton,  born  at  Southbridge,  Mass.,  in  1830,  having  re- 
ceived a  thorough  mercantile  training,  began  at  Hartford,  in  1865,  the 
manufacture  of  envelopes.  The  early  production  was  small,  when 
compared  with  the  present  out-put,  but  the  business  prospered  from 
the  start,  and  was  gradually  enlarged  to  include  paper,  papeteries, 
and  printing.  In  1873,  The  Plimpton  Manufacturing  Company  was 
organized,  with  L.  B.  Plimpton  as  president  and  general  manager. 
In  1874,  the  new  company  entered  the  lists  as  bidders  for  making 
stamped  envelopes  for  the  government,  and  were  successful  in  securing 
the  prize.  Many  obstacles  were  thrown  in  their  way  by  parties  long 
interested  in  the  successive  quadrennial  contracts,  but  all  were  over- 
come, and  improvements  so  numerous  and  radical  have  since  been 
made  in  appliances  for  doing  the  work,  that  inventions  protected  by 
patents  have  since  enabled  the  company  to  underbid  all  competitors. 
The  Morgan  Envelope  Company  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  joined  the 
Plimpton  Company  in  the  first  contract  with  the  government,  and  the 
association  has  continued  till  the  present  time.  This  branch  of  the 
work  has  always  been  conducted  in  a  separate  building,  and  so  far  as 
accounts  and  details  are  concerned,  kept  entirely  by  itself. 

In  1886,  to  meet  the  growing  demands  of  their  general  trade,  the 
company  built  a  factory  for  their  own  exclusive  use  on  Pearl  street. 
Jt  is  constructed  of  brick  with    stone    trimmings,    and    has    four    floors 


128  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

above  the  basement,  each  containing  seventeen  thousand  square  feet. 
It  is  lighted  by  electricity,  furnished  with  automatic  fire  extinguishers, 
and  thoroughly  provided  with  modern  appliances  for  the  convenient 
and  economical  dispatch  of  business. 

Before  the  structure  was  fully  completed,  the  spacious  rooms  were 
freely  tendered  to  the  Robert  O.  Tyler  Post  for  the  fair  given  under 
the  auspices  of  that  organization  in  December,  1886,  for  the  benefit  of 
disabled  and  needy  veterans  of  the  war,  and  for  dependent  widows 
and  orphans.  The  profits  realized  during  the  week  amounted  to  over 
ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  first  floor  above  the  street  is  used  for  offices,  for  the  retail 
trade,  and  for  the  storage  of  stock ;  the  second  contains  a  com- 
plete equipment  for  job  printing  on  a  large  scale  ;  the  third 
is  principally  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  envelopes,  the  annual 
product  ranging  above  three  hundred  and  fifty  millions,  and  in  part 
to  the  manufacture  of  envelope  machinery,  all  that  used  by  the  firm 
being  produced  on  the  premises  ;  on  the  fourth  plain  paper  is  ruled, 
and  afterwards  converted  into  a  wide  variety  of  tablets  and  blank 
books.  On  the  upper  floor  also  are  made  paper  boxes  in  great 
quantities.     The  basement  is  largely  given  up  to  the  storage  of  stock. 

A  statement  of  naked  facts  can  convey  no  adequate  conception  of 
the  perfection  of  the  labor-saving  contrivances  in  use,  or  of  the  in- 
genuity and  toil  expended  in  their  evolution  from  the  crude  germs  of 
twenty-three  years  ago.  From  paper  made  of  such  breadths  as  to 
avoid  waste,  envelopes  are  cut  hundreds  at  a  time  with  each  fall  of 
the  knife.  The  sheets  placed  in  bulk  upon  the  table  of  the  machine 
are  picked  up  one  by  one  by  fingers  that  never  tire,  gummed,  folded, 
impressed  with  the  printed  request  to  return  to  the  writer  (and  at  the 
government  works  with  the  postage  stamp  also)  counted  in  packages 
of  twenty-five  each,  and  delivered  at  the  outlet  ready  for  boxing. 
With  intelligence  seemingly  human,  and  with  more  than  human  exact- 
ness and  endurance,  the  marvelous  combinations  of  wood  and  iron 
fulfill  their  daily  round,  never  making  a  miscount,  and  rarely  even  for 
an  instant  failing  to  turn  out  perfect  work.  Most  of  the  improve- 
ments, which  render  the  present  machines  so  precise  and  effective, 
have  been  wrought  out  under  the  suggestions  and  directions  of  the 
officers  of   the  company,   and   arc   protected   by    patents.     It    has   been 


THE    PLIMPTON    MANUFACTURING    COMPANY.  129 

the  constant  aim  to  do  nothing  by  hand  that  could  be  done  equally 
well  or  better  by  machinery,  and  to  tolerate  no  imperfection  of  method 
remediable  by  inventive  skill. 

When  designed  in  1886,  the  factory  on  Pearl  street,  it  was  sup- 
posed by  the  managers,  would  furnish  ample  accommodations  for  the 
general  trade  for  a  long  period  to  come,  but  so  rapidly  is  the  busi- 
ness extending  that  already  every  floor  is  crowded,  and  the  margin 
for  elbow  room  is  becoming  uncomfortably  narrow. 

The  cost  of  plain  paper  stock  annually  consumed  in  both  depart- 
ments exceeds  half  a  million  of  dollars. 

At  the  New  York  office  of  the  company,  No.  312  Broadway,  may 
be  found  a  complete  exhibit  of  all  lines  of  goods  produced  bv  them. 
Either  there  or  by  correspondence  with  the  main  office  at  Hartford, 
the  public  can  obtain   information  with  regard  to  prices  and  specialties. 

Since  the  transfer  of  the  manufacture  of  United  States  stamped 
envelopes  to  Hartford,  in  1874,  the  annual  product  has  risen  from 
one  hundred  and  fifty  to  four  hundred  millions.  The  work,  under  the 
immediate  supervision  of  Maro  S.  Chapman,  is  carried  on  in  a  build- 
ing by  itself,  entirely  separate  from  the  rest  of  the  business,  while 
the  post-office  department  has  an  agent  of  its  own  under  the  same 
roof  to  look  after  its  interests,  and  to  superintend  the  shipment  of 
the  goods  to  post-offices  throughout  the  country  on  orders  from 
Washington. 

Owing  to  the  invaluable  inventions  made  and  patented  by  the 
Plimpton  company  less  help  is  employed  by  them  than  by  the 
former  contractors,  though  the  production,  meantime,  has  nearly  trebled, 
Of  the  best  grade  of  letter  size  envelopes,  the  price,  exclusive  of  the 
value  of  the  postage,  has  fallen  from  $3.20  per  thousand  in  1874 
to  $2.00  in  1889.  The  difference  of  $1.20  per  M.,  or  sixty  per 
cent,  on  the  present  selling  price,  saved  by  the  ingenuity  of  Hart- 
ford brains  and  the  efficiency  of  Hartford  management,  inures 
wholly   to    the    benefit    of   the  American  people. 

In  1884,  the  Postmaster-General  adopted  a  newly  invented  ma- 
chine for  testing  the  strength  of  the  paper  used  by  contractors 
on  different  kinds  of  work  for  the  department.  After  repeated 
trials,   began  in    a   somewhat    unfriendly  spirit,  it  was   found  that   the 


130 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


stock  put  into  the  stamped  envelopes  ranged  considerably  above  the 
requirements    of  the  bond. 

The  two  factories  combined  make  the  Plimpton  Company  the 
largest  producer  of  envelopes  in  the  world.  They  employ  150  men 
and  250  women,  and  disburse  $160,000  annually  in  wages.  The 
yearly  output  has  grown  from  $75,000  in  the  beginning  to  a  million 
and  a  quarter  of  dollars,   and  is  continually  increasing. 

The  officers  are,  L.  B.  Plimpton,  president ;  M.  S.  Chapman, 
vice-president;  F.  W.  Plimpton,  treasurer;  and  Frederick  Plimpton, 
secretary. 


GOVERNMENT  ENVELOPE  WORKS. 


THE   JOHN'S-PRATT    COMPANY.  I  3  I 

CEER'S     HARTFORD     CITY     DIRECTORY. 

In  1838,  Elihu  Geer  opened  the  printing  office  now  known  as  the 
Hartford  Printing  Company,  and  in  1841  bought  the  right  of  the 
City  Directory,  of  which  three  numbers  had  been  issued.  The  same 
year  he  brought  out  the  first  of  the  series  which  bears  his  name.  It 
was  reproduced  in  the  edition  for  1871,  making  sixteen  pages.  Gen. 
Geer  was  an  enthusiast  in  the  collection  and  publication  of  facts  re- 
lating to  Hartford  and  its  growth.  Year  by  year  he  enlarged  the 
scope  and  size  of  the  work,  until  it  now  embraces  nearly  six  hundred 
pages,  giving,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  features  of  a  directory,  a 
concise  history  of  the  city,  with  its  institutions,  and  a  large  array  of 
miscellaneous  but  interesting  facts.  In  the  preparation  of  this  vol- 
ume, the  directory  has  been  in  constant  use,  and  some  such  experi- 
ence is  needed  to  give  an  adequate  conception  of  the  extent,  variety, 
and  value  of  the  information  which  it  contains.  Enterprising  pub- 
lishers elsewhere  have  made  the  book  their  model. 

Gen.  Geer  died  March  27,  1S87.  The  work  is  continued  by  his 
sons,  who  also  carry  on  the  business  of  book  and  job  printing  at  16 
State  street. 

THE    JOHNS-PRATT    COMPANY. 

An  off-shoot  from  The  Pratt  &  Cady  Company,  The  Johns-Pratt 
Company  was  formed  in  1886  to  manufacture  asbestos,  under  various 
patents  of  R.  N.  Pratt,  H.  W.  Johns,  and  others,  into  packing  of  all 
descriptions,  round,  square,  sheet,  and  molded  in  forms,  for  steam, 
water,  chemical,  and  electrical  work.  This  material  forms  the 
basis  of  all  the  goods  here  produced.  From  its  capacity  of  resisting 
heat,  and  of  securing  perfect  insulation,  when  properly  treated,  asbestos 
holds  an  unique  place  in  its  adaptation  to  many  practical  needs,  that 
remained  largely  unsupplied  till  the  recent  development  in  Lancashire 
and  Hartford  of  the  multiform  possibilities  of  the  substance. 

The  company  have  succeeded  in  perfecting  parts  of  valves  used 
in  large  quantities  by  the  Pratt  &  Cady  Company,  and  controlled  by 
them  for  electrical,  engineering,  and  car-heating  work,  and  are  now 
engaged  in  elaborating  an  accumulator-cell,  which  promises  to  super- 
cede hard  rubber  and  glass.  Their  latest  novelty  is  an  asbestos  shoe 
sole,    more    durable    than    leather,    impervious    to    water,    and    through 


I32  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

its  non-conductivity  preventing  the  escape  of  the  animal  heat  of  the 
foot.  Experiments  now  in  progress  warrant  the  belief  that  the  article 
will  soon  be  produced  in  a  form  suitable  for  the  market,  and  will 
prove  of  great  service  to  wearers. 

The  company  employ  15  hands,  and  pay  $9,000  annually  in  wages. 
It  was  organized  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  a  part  of  which  is  re- 
served 'for  the  future  development  of  the  business.  The  factory  is 
located  on  Capitol  avenue,  just  beyond  the  Pratt  &  Cady  Company. 
Its  officers  are,  H.  W.  Johns  of  New  York  City,  president ;  R.  N. 
Pratt,  treasurer  ;    and  Edward  Hatch,  secretary. 

THE     PRATT    &    CADY     COMPANY. 

The  above  establishment,  which  has  grown  rapidly  into  strength ' 
and  prominence,  began  July  1,  1S78,  as  The  Steam  Boiler  Appliance 
Company,  taking  the  patents  of  Francis  A.  and  Rufus  N.  Pratt,  and 
making  return  steam-traps  and  swinging  check-valves,  both  of  which 
have  since  come  into  extensive  use  in  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain.  For  four  years  their  office  was  with  The  Pratt  &  Whitney 
Company,  who  manufactured  the  traps  for  them,  the  valves  being 
made  by  contract  in  Bridgeport. 

Having,  in  1882,  formed  an  incorporation  under  the  present  name, 
and  increased  the  capital  from  $50,000  to  $100,000,  the  company  be- 
gan the  manufacture  of  their  own  goods  in  the  Gillett  Building  on 
Union  Place,  adding  another  line  known  as  the  straightway  swinging 
stop- valve.  Business  grew  so  rapidly  that,  finding  more  commodious 
quarters  necessary,  they  bought  a  lot  at  the  corner  of  Capitol  avenue 
and  Sigourney  street,  and  erected  their  first  building  in  1883,  having 
it  ready  for  occupancy  in  September. 

While  visiting  certain  mills  in  Lancashire,  England,  in  1881,  R. 
N.  Pratt  observed  the  uses  of  asbestos  as  applied  to  steam  valves. 
The  knowledge  casually  gained  and  not  impressive  at  the  moment 
assumed  more  importance  after  his  return  home,  for,  on  reflection,  he 
reached  a  belief  that  the  material,  properly  treated,  could  be  made 
highly  valuable  as  an  adjunct  in  the  production  of  their  special  lines. 
Correspondence  with  the  owners  in  England  resulted  in  the  purchase 
of  the  exclusive  right  to  use  the  patents  in  the  United  States.  The 
expectations  of   Mr.  Pratt  have  been  more  than  realized.      The  merits 


134  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

of  asbestos  as  here  applied  so  broadened  the  demand  for  the  goods 
that,  in  the  spring  of  1886,  the  capacity  of  the  plant  was  greatly  en- 
larged, and  late  in  1888,  ground  was  again  broken  for  doubling  the 
size  of  the  works. 

Meanwhile  the  inventive  talent  in  the  company  has  not  been  idle. 
They  have  taken  out  several  patents  for  the  application  of  the  ma- 
terial to  valves  of  all  kinds,  the  asbestos  renewable  disk  now  being 
the  prominent  feature  in  brass  and  iron  straightway,  globe,  and  angle 
valves.  With  the  increase  in  the  varieties  offered  to  the  public,  the 
calls  for  all  kinds  have  multiplied.  They  are  now  making  a  line  of 
gate  valves  with  renewable  asbestos  seats,  the  usefulness  of  which 
must  win  for  them  wide  popularity. 

The  application  of  asbestos  to  the  uses  here  made  of  it  is  entirely 
new  in  this  country,  and  has  here  been  carried  very  much  further 
than  in  England,  where  the  original  owners  are  preparing  to  introduce 
on  an  extensive  scale  the  American  features. 

The  goods  of  the  company  are  all  sold  to  Fairbanks  &  Co.  of 
New  York,  Fairbanks,  Brown  &  Co.  of  Boston,  and  to  their  branch 
houses,  which  each  in  its  own  field  distribute  them  throughout  the 
country.  The  pressure  of  orders  has  always  crowded  uncomfortably 
the  capacity  for  production,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  the  additional  room 
afforded  by  the  construction  now  in  progress  will  afford  relief  longer 
than  did  the  former  enlargement  of  the  works  in  1886.  No  limit  can 
be  assigned  to  the  future  development  of  the  business.  If  the 
strength  of  the  adult  corresponds  to  the  robustness  of  the  infant,  this 
establishment  will  in  due  time  find  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of 
American    manufactories. 

The  capital  is  $100,000,  the  shares  being  held  by  a  few  people  as 
an  exceptionally  choice  investment.  The  company  employ  150  hands, 
and  pay  about  $90,000  a  year  in  wrages.  When  the  new  buildings 
are  completed  and  occupied,  the  pay-roll  will  be  doubled.  The  offi- 
cers from  the  date  of  organization  have  been,  Rufus  N.  Pratt,  presi- 
dent;  Ernest  Cady,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

THE    AMERICAN    PUBLISHING   COMPANY. 

The  above  company,  incorporated  April  8,  1865,  by  the  coalescence 
and  absorption  of  various  houses,  traces  its  lineage  to  the  origin  of 
the  subscription  business  in   1822,  and  some    of  the    stereotype  plates, 


THE    SIGOURNEY    TOOL    COMPANY.  135 

made  not  long  after,  are  still  in  its  possession.  From  the  beginning 
it  has  commanded  an  extensive  trade,  having  disposed  of  immense 
editions  of  many  well-known  books,  and  having  introduced  to  the 
public  a  number  of  noted  authors. 

The  connections  of  the  company,  co-extensive  with  civilization,  en- 
able it  to  give  the  widest  circulation  to  meritorious  works,  and  not- 
withstanding the  money  and  labor  now  required  to  market  books,  it  is 
in  better  condition,  and  better  prepared  to  prosecute  the  business, 
than  at  any  previous  period  of  its  existence. 

Capital,  550,000.  Officers,  Frank  E.  Bliss,  president  and  treasurer  ; 
Walter  Bliss,  secretary.     424  Asylum. 

ESTATE    OF    S.    N.    HART. 

In  1833,  S.  N.  Hart,  with  a  fellow-apprentice,  formed  the  partnership 
of  Balch  &  Hart,  carriage  makers,  occupying  a  shop  on  Church 
street.  Burned  out  in  1838.  he  built  about  1840  both  a  house  and 
factory  on  the  corner  of  Asylum  and  Ford  streets.  From  that  time 
till  the  war  he  did  an  extensive  southern  business  in  carriages,  besides 
supplying  chaises  to  the  Boston  market,  where  his  work  and  stvles 
were  highly  popular.  In  1865,  he  built  a  large  factor}-  on  Ford 
street,  which  he  sold  the  following  year  for  $25,000.  In  1867,  he 
bought  the  property  Nos.  39-43  Albany  avenue,  which  he  occupied 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  since  his  death  in  1886  the 
business  has  been  continued  in  the  same  place  by  his  son.  Edward 
G.  Hart,  for  the  benefit  of  the  estate.  The  establishment  has  always 
enjoyed  a  high  reputation  for  the  excellence  of  its  work. 

THE    SIGOL/RNEY   TOOL    COMPANY. 

A  joint  stock  corporation,  organized  under  the  general  law  of 
Connecticut,  in  1880,  as  The  Hartford  Compressed  Air  Pump  Com- 
pany, secured,  in  April,  1884.  on  application  to  the  Superior  Court,  an 
order  changing  the  name  to  The  Sigournev  Tool  Company.  The  original 
pump  business  was  bought  by  other  parties,  and  removed  to  New 
Jersey. 

Before  the  sale,  in  anticipation  of  a  change  in  the  direction  of  its 
efforts,  the  company  remodeled  its  works,  putting  in  the  finest  machine 
tools    procurable,    and    began    to    manufacture    interchangeable    special 


I36  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

machinery  of  a  high  quality  of  workmanship.  Restricting  its  en- 
deavors to  the  finest  grades  and  most  delicate  adjustments,  the  com- 
pany have  gradually  drawn  to  its  doors  a  clientage  that  on  various 
lines  are  aiming  at  similar  excellence.  Latterly  the  pressure  of  orders 
from  a  highly  desirable  class  of  customers  has  crowded  the  facilities 
of  the  establishment  to  their  utmost  capacity,  so  that  a  material  en- 
largement will  soon  become  imperative. 

For  the  protection  of  itself  and  its  patrons  the  company  has 
erected  at  considerable  expense  a  commodious  fire-proof  building, 
where  special  tools  are  stored  at  night,  and  when  not  in  use,  under 
the  constant  care  of  a  competent  man. 

The  company  build  the  Smyth  book  sewing  machines,  having 
produced  all  tools  for  making  the  parts  of  the  same  interchangeable. 
It  is  also  now  engaged  in  filling  a  large  order  from  type-writers  for 
tools,  in  making  models  of  special  machines,  automatic  machines  for 
several  purposes,  and  a  large  number  of  its  one,  two,  and  three 
spindle  drills. 

It  is  the  policy  of  the  company  to  keep  fully  abreast  of  the 
times,  and  as  new  demands  arise  with  the  progress  of  invention,  to  be 
prepared  always  to  respond  with  work  of  the  very  finest  quality. 

Capital,  $60,000.  Factory  and  office,  9  Sigourney  street,  corner  of 
Cushman.     Number  of  hands,  51.     Annual  payments  in  wages,  $38,000. 

G.  Wells  Root,  president ;  Frederick  D.  Taylor,  secretary  and 
treasurer. 

J.    M.    NEY    &    COMPANY. 

J.  M.  Ney  &  Company  refine  and  manufacture  gold  foil,  leaf, 
plate,   etc.,   and  pure   and    alloyed   gold  and    silver  for    electro-platers. 

The  house  traces  its  lineage  to  William  Johnson,  who  was  in  this 
business  in  Hartford  as  early  as  1828.  J.  Ff.  Ashmead  succeeded 
Mr.  Johnson  in  1839,  and  was  followed  by  Ashmead  &  Hurlburt  in 
1846.  The  new  firm  continued  until  1864  when  it  dissolved  and 
divided  the  business,  one  branch  being  conducted  by  E.  Hurlburt  & 
Company  until  1866,  when,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Hurlburt,  it  became 
J.  M.  Ney   &    Company. 

The  annual  out-put  is  large,  and  is  distributed  from  Nova  Scotia 
to   the  Pacific    Ocean.     This  house  -furnished   the   gold  for  the   dome 


THE    AMERICAN    WRITING    MACHINE    COMPANY.  1 37 

of  our  State  Capitol.  A  surface  of  forty-four  hundred  square  feet 
consumed  about  two  pounds  of  the  leaf,  valued  at  eleven  hundred 
dollars.  After  ten  years  of  service  the  covering  is  still  in  excellent 
condition.     Shop,   265  Asylum. 

THE    AMERICAN     WRITING    MACHINE    COMPANY. 

Organized  in  1880,  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York,  this 
company  located  at  first  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Its  initial  opera- 
tions were  far  from  satisfactory.  It  could  not  obtain  efficient  help, 
while  good  hands  introduced  from  other  places  were  apt  to  deterio- 
rate amid  the  evil  influences  around  them.  Inferior  workmanship 
resulted  in   an  unprofitable  business. 

In  the  fall  of  1S82,  the  works  were  removed  to  Corry,  Penn..  in 
consideration  of  a  bonus  from  the  city  and  a  proffer  of  additional 
capital.  While  some  improvement  followed,  the  cost  of  production 
being  reduced  and  the  quality  of  the  machine  advanced,  the  local- 
ity developed  counterbalancing  disadvantages.  All  skilled  help  had 
to  be  brought  from  a  distance,  and  many  were  discontented  away 
from  their  old  associates.  In  the  absence  of  other  factories  making 
fine,  light  machinery,  improvements  in  tools  and  construction  could 
only  originate  on  the  premises  of  the  company.  Materials  came  from 
a  distance  and  often  proved  unsuitable.  The  stimulus  to  growth 
springing  from  contact  of  mind  with  mind  was  largely  wanting.  The 
drawbacks  of  the  situation,  often  and  anxiously  discussed,  convinced 
the  principal  owners  of  the  necessity  of  another  change.  At  this 
juncture,  George  A.  Fairfield,  the  organizer  and  head  of  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  manufactories  in  New  England,  urged  the  advan- 
tages of  Hartford  with  so  much  force  that  the  company,  although 
burdened  with  a  lease  and  rent  running  eighteen  months  longer, 
after  careful  consideration,  moved  to  this  city  in  the  spring  of  1885. 
It  required  nerve  to  face  the  cost  of  transferring  several  hundred 
miles  the  machinery  and  fixtures  of  an  extensive  plant,  and  to  assist 
over  forty  hands  specially  skilled  in  the  work  to  migrate  to  new 
homes  with  their  families  and  belongings. 

However,  the  stockholders  have  had  no  occasion  to  regret  that 
they  followed  the  excellent  advice  of  Mr.  Fairfield.  Locating  at  476 
Capitol   avenue,   in  a  nest    of    cognate  industries,    with    an    ample   fund 


I38  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  COXX. 

of  ingenuity  and  manual  skill  to  draw  from,  and  brought  into  rela- 
tions of  close  fellowship  with  scientific  mechanics,  the  enterprise 
passed  through  a  transformation  which  has  made  il  a  fitting  compan- 
ion in  prosperity  of  the  Hartford  Machine  Screw  Company  in  the 
contiguous  and  connecting  buildings.  Great  improvements  in  the 
machine  by  devices  which  reduced  the  cost  of  construction,  speedily 
changed  the  complexion  of  the  business.  Since  the  removal  to 
Hartford  a  debt  of  $40,000,  incurred  by  a  previous  administration, 
has  been  paid  ;  all  obligations  for  royalties  have  been  extinguished  ; 
the  entire  cost  of  patents  has  been  written  off  from  the  books ;  the 
factory  has  been  wholly  refitted  with  new  tools  both  special  and 
general,  the  equipment  brought  from  Pennsylvania  having  become 
obsolete  through  the  introduction  of  more  efficient  contrivances  ;  and 
in  addition  to  these  extraordinary  expenditures  the  property  has  been 
placed  upon  a  solid  dividend-paying  basis.  A  rigid  but  intelligent 
economy  has   been   an   important  factor  in    producing  the  result. 

The  managers  fully  recognize  the  aid  they  have  derived  from  the 
abundance  here  of  specially  skilled  labor,  and  from  the  proximity  of 
able  industrial  leaders. 

While  local  advantages  have  contributed  largely  to  this  rapid  and 
remarkable  change  in  conditions,  the  excellence  of  the  machine  now 
offered  to  the  public  by  the  company  has  accomplished  the  rest. 
In  model  the  No.  2  Caligraph  has  always  possessed  decided  advantages 
over  that  of  any  other  double-case  type-writer.  It  has  a  key  for 
every  character,  and  no  shift  is  needed  to  get  upper-case  characters 
or  punctuation  marks,  thus  reducing  the  number  of  movements  re- 
quired to  write  a  given  amount  of  matter  to  the  fewest  possible. 
The  type-bar  journals  are  adjustable  to  wear,  so  that  good  align- 
ment can  be  maintained  for  years,  and  since  the  removal  of  the 
works  to  Hartford  the  quality  of  material  and  workmanship  has  been 
so  much  advanced  that  the  Caligraph  is  to-day  probably  the  best 
made  writing-machine   in  the  market. 

The  rapid  enlargement  of  the  demand  has  come  more  from  the 
spontaneous  recommendation  of  users  than  from  advertising,  for  of 
this  the  company  has  done  comparatively  little.  To-day  it  can  be 
found  in  operation  in  every  trade  center  of  the  world.  Not  only  is 
it   the   favorite    in    this    country  with    the     Western    Union    Telegraph 


THE  BEACH  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY.  I39 

Co.,  The  Associated  Press,  and  many  of  the  largest  commercial  con- 
cerns, but  the  British  Home  and  Colonial  governments,  and  the 
French  and  Russian  governments,  are  prominent  buyers  of  caligraphs. 
It  is  fitted  according  to  destination  with  the  writing  characters  of  the 
principal  modern  languages,  including  Greek.  Russian,  and  Armenian. 
The  company  employs  175  hands,  paying  yearly  over  $90,000  in 
wages.  Its  capital  is  $150,000.  John  C.  Howe,  president:  C.  F. 
Taylor,  vice-president :  George  E.  Morehouse,  treasurer ;  and  J.  M. 
Fairfield,  secretary. 

THE     BEACH     MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

March  24,  1888,  The  Beach  Manufacturing  Company  began,  with 
four  hands,  to  produce  fleece-lined  cloth,  under  the  patents  of  Samuel 
Jaros.  By  the  first  of  Jul)*,  the  number  of  employes  had  increased  to 
twenty-five,  and  in  November,  to  sixty-five.  Before  the  close  of  1889 
they  expect  to  have  fully  two  hundred  at  work,  as  the  only  impedi- 
ment to  a  seemingly  indefinite  extension  of  the  business,  thus  far  visi- 
ble,   is  the  time  required  for  making  the  looms. 

At  the  present  time  the  company  manufacture  cloth  for  under- 
Avear,  shoe  linings  for  rubber  goods,  arctic  socks,  stockings,  and 
shoes,  all  fleece-lined ;  also  knit  fabrics  for  ladies,  and  Jersey  cloths 
with  and  without  backing.  Basic  patents  cover  the  machine,  process, 
and  products.  By  ingenious  devices  Mr.  }aros  has  reached  practical 
results  which  knitters  had  previously  agreed  in  pronouncing  unattain- 
able. The  machines  are  patented  as  "  automatic  running  knitting 
looms."  The  process  and  patents  are  applicable  to  a  wide  range  of 
manufacture,  and  as  the  company  overtakes  the  demands  upon  its 
facilities,  new  lines  will  from  time  to  time  be  placed  upon  the  market. 

In  the  Jaros  underwear  and  foot-wear  strictly  scientific  principles 
are  applied  to  the  production  of  clothing.  The  fleece  lining  of  wool  by 
capillary  action  transmits  the  moisture  of  the  body  to  the  cotton 
backing  of  the  cloth,  leaving  the  surface  dry  and  warm.  An  experi- 
ment easily  tried  demonstrates  the  rapidity  of  the  process.  If  a  piece 
of  the  fabric,  saturated  in  water  and  wrung  is  placed  between  the 
open  palms  of  the  hands,  in  two  or  three  minutes  the  fleece  side 
will  be  dry  and  warm,  while  the  reverse  side  will  be  wet  and  cold. 
The    goods  always    present    a    dry    surface    to    the    skin,    permit    free 


I4O  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

evaporation  from  the  person,  guarding  against  sudden  chilling  of  the 
body,  and  besides  being  a  protection  to  the  delicate  are  a  comfort  to 
the  strong.  Athletes,  base-ball  players,  and  others  whose  amusements 
or  pursuits  involve  violent  exercise,  are  counted  among  the  most  en- 
thusiastic users  of  the  Jaros  wear. 

Factory  and  office  at  95  Commerce  street.     Capital,  $50,000. 

It  is  difficult  to  give  satisfactory  statistics  of  a  concern  that  is 
growing  so  rapidly.  The  year  1889  opens  with  a  pay-roll  exceeding 
$20,000  per  annum. 

George  Watson  Beach,  president ;  Geo.  H.  Day,  vice-president ;  C. 
J.  Burnell,  treasurer ;  Samuel  Jaros,  manager ;  and  John  A.  Butler,  Jr., 
secretary. 

THE     BURR     INDEX    COMPANY. 

The  Burr  Index  Co.  was  organized  in  April,  1883,  succeeding 
The  J.  B.  Burr  Publishing  Co.  They  manufacture  Burr's  Patent  Com- 
bination Indexes,  and  blank  books  of  all  kinds.  The  indexes  are 
largely  used  by  the  executive  departments  at  Washington  and  at 
Ottawa,  the  Canadian  capital,  by  many  large  railway  companies  and 
firms  throughout  the  country,  and  in  Great  Britain.  The  advantages 
of  the  index  are  its  simplicity  and  the  rapidity  with  which  names  can 
be  entered  and  found.  The  method  of  arrangement  is  such  that  one 
turn  of  the  hand  will  give  the  location  of  any  name  desired.  It  is 
generally  conceded  to  be  the  best  system  of  improved  indexing  to  be 
found,  being  specially  adapted  to  the  use  of  banks,  insurance  and 
railway  companies,  assessors,  State,  county,  town,  and  city  clerks, 
and  all  firms  having  many  names  to  enter. 

Capital,  $50,000.  W.  L.  Matson,  president ;  S.  Talcott,  vice-presi- 
dent;   R.  K.  Erving,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

THE    WASHBURN     CAR-WHEEL    COMPANY. 

The  business  of  this  company  was  brought  from  Worcester,  Mass., 
in  1873,  when  it  was  organized  with  its  present  name  under  a  Con- 
necticut charter. 

They  manufacture  steel-tired  wheels  for  passenger  coaches,  loco- 
motives and  tenders,  parlor  and  sleeping  cars.  The  tire,  made  from 
crucible  steel,  hammered  and  rolled,  is  welded  to  a  cast-iron  center. 
These  wheels  have  been   in   use   for  nineteen   years,   and   have   an    un- 


PARKS    &    SAVAGE.  I4I 

equaled  record  for  mileage.  For  fast  service  they  have  been  adopted 
by  the  leading  railways  of  this  and  other  countries,  and  have  given  a 
high  degree  of  satisfaction,  a  goodly  percentage  of  them  showing  a 
life  of  over  half  a  million  of  miles. 

A  part  of  the  work  is  still  done  in  Worcester.  The  Hartford 
branch  employs  30  men,  and  pays  §18,000  yearly  in  wages. 

Capital,  $300,000.  Works  on  Suffield  street.  Officers,  Wm.  H. 
Barnum,  vice-president;   Salisbury  Hyde,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

PARKS    &    SAVAGE. 

Late  in  the  eighteenth  century  one  Quiner  introduced  in  Hartford 
the  manufacture  of  crackers,  on  the  Albany  road  at  the  location  now 
numbered  185  Albany  avenue.  The  forms  were  cut  by  hand.  About 
the  year  1800,  J.  S.  French  succeeded  Mr.  Quiner,  and  carried  on 
the  business  at  the  same  stand  for  over  fifty  years,  improving  the 
processes  step  by  step  till,  in  1852,  horse  power  was  substituted  for 
human  muscle  in  preparing  the  dough.  In  1850,  Irad  Edwards,  after 
an  apprenticeship  of  seven  years,  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  and  two 
years  later,  on  the  retirement  of  Mr.  French,  the  firm  of  J.  S.  French 
&  Co.  was  succeeded  by  Edwards  &  Kelley,  which  continued  till  1861, 
when  Mr.  Edwards  became  sole  proprietor,  and  removed  from  185  to 
57  Albany  avenue.  He  introduced  a  number  of  notable  improvements, 
including  steam  power  for  rolling  and  preparing  the  dough,  and  a 
reel  oven  with  a  capacity  for  baking  ten  barrels  of  flour  in  ten  hours 
—  the  first  of  the  kind  in  Hartford  and  the  second  in  New  England. 
The  firm  of  Irad  Edwards  &  Son,  formed  in  1868,  continued  till  1874, 
when  the  business  was  bought  by  S.  H.  Backus,  who,  in  1876,  sold  it 
to  Wm.  T.  Parks. 

The  present  firm  of  Parks  &  Savage  dates  from  January  1,  1877. 
Early  in  the  same  year  street  number  59  was  added  to  their  prem- 
ises, and  a  new  oven  was  built  with  a  capacity  for  thirty  barrels  of 
flour  in  ten  hours.  So  rapidly  did  the  business  grow  that  they  soon 
found  it  needful  to  take  No.  61  for  storage.  At  the  expiration  of  a 
ten  years'  lease,  May  1,  1887,  Parks  &  Savage  bought  the  entire 
property,  and  in  the  following  autumn  built  the  additions  in  the  rear. 
In  extent  and  variety  of  production  the  firm  hold  a  leading  position 
in   New  England,   turning  out  a  class   of  goods,   especially  lunch  bis- 


142  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

cuit  and  pilot  bread,  that  rank  with  the  choicest  in  the  market. 
They  employ  about  25  men  and  boys,  and  pay  $15,000  yearly  in 
wages.     Proprietors,  Wm.  T.  Parks  and  Willis  M.  Savage. 

N.     PALMER    &    CO. 

This  house,  one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  New  England,  estab- 
lished in  1859  by  Messrs.  Nelson  Palmer,  George  Aspenwall,  and  J. 
W.  Fuller,  manufacture  oak-tanned  leather  belting.  In  1869,  Mr.  Pal- 
mer died,  and  the  business  was  conducted  by  the  remaining  partners 
until  1875,  when  Mr.  Fuller  retired.  In  1878,  Fayette  C.  Clark,  who 
had  been  in  the  employ  of  the  firm  for  nine  years,  was  admitted  to 
the  partnership,  and  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Aspenwall,  in  1880,  bought 
his  interest  and  became  sole  proprietor,  retaining  the  firm  name  of 
N.  Palmer  &  Co. 

The  workshop,  storage-room,  office,  etc.,  occupy  two  floors  of  the 
spacious  building  at  338  Asylum  street,  and  from  small  beginnings 
the  business  has  grown  to  large  proportions,  extending  over  New 
England  and  to  remote  parts  of  the  United  States. 

Besides  the  manufacture  of  belting  and  the  sale  of  manufacturers' 
supplies,  the  house  furnishes  the  entire  country  with  a  "patent  lubri- 
cating axle  washer,"  of  great  merit.  It  is  the  invention  of  Mr.  Clark, 
for  which  he  holds  letters  patent,  and  is  made  from  leather,  which 
undergoes  treatment  by  a  chemical  solution  that  renders  it  imperme- 
able to  moisture  and  non-sensitive  to  the  influence  of  heat  or  dryness 
of  atmosphere,  while  it  acts  as  a  lubricant  to  the  axle.  It  also  dead- 
ens sound,  and  retaining  its  virtues  through  all  seasons,  is  efficient 
until  worn  out. 

The  house  likewise  makes  a  specialty  of  polishing  and  buffing 
leather  of  the  various  kinds  for  polishing  steel  and  soft  metals.  It  is 
the  sole  agent  in  Connecticut  and  western  Massachusetts  for  the  Cal- 
lahan jacket-fire-hose,  made  of  a  knitted  fabric  and  lined  with  rubber, 
an  article  in  extensive  use  and  very  popular  with  fire  departments, 
manufacturers,   and  others. 

ALLYN    &    BLANCHARD    COMPANY. 

The  foundations  of  a  business,  which  has  grown  to  large  propor- 
tions, were  laid  by  0.  H.  Blanchard,  in  1865,  in  narrow  premises  on 
the  corner  of  State  and  Front  streets.     In    1878,  N.   B.  Allyn    became 


\YM.    II.    WILEY    &    SON.  1 43 

a  partner  under  the  firm  name  of  Allyn  &  Blanchard,  and  thence, 
with  added  means  and  energy,  the  house  advanced  rapidly  to  a  lead- 
ing position  in  New  England.  To  meet  the  increasing  demands  of 
trade,  they  moved  into  commodious  quarters  at  Xos.  32-40  Market 
street,  with  a  mill  in  the  rear.  In  1885,  Charles  G.  Lincoln  and 
Robert  X.  Seyms  were  admitted  to  the  partnership,  and  the  title  was 
changed  to  Allyn  &  Blanchard  Company. 

The  company  manufacture  ground  coffee  and  spices,  employing  in 
this  department  about  30  hands,  and  paying  yearly  over  $25,000  in 
wages,  with  annual  sales  exceeding  half  a  million.  The  mill  is 
thoroughly  equipped  for  this  special  work.  Aside  from  the  prepara- 
tion of  goods  for  the  market,  the  company  are  extensive  importers 
and  dealers  in  tea,  coffee,  spices,  cigars,  tobacco,  and  grocers'  specialties. 
Upon  the  best  grades  they  place  the  firm  trade-mark  of  the  Turk's 
Head,  which  consumers  have  learned  from  uniform  experience  to  rec- 
ognize as  a  guaranty  of  purity  and  excellence. 

WM.    H.    WILEY   &   SON. 

In  1876,  William  H.  Wiley  began  the  manufacture  of  over-gaiters, 
with  a  capital  of  twelve  dollars,  making  long  days  himself,  and  em- 
ploying a  single  girl.  Pursuing  the  established  Hartford  policy  of 
doing  only  the  most  thorough  and  serviceable  work,  he  soon  established 
a  reputation  which  brought  a  rapid  and  continuous  increase  of  orders, 
till  the  firm  now  employ  about  fifty  hands,  of  whom  two-thirds  are 
girls,  pay  Si 2,000  a  year  in  wages,  and  distribute  an  annual  product 
valued  at  $55,000.  In  1886,  his  son.  J.  Allen  Wiley,  was  admitted  as 
a  partner.  As  a  result  of  good  work  and  good  management,  the  firm, 
besides  paying  for  its  entire  equipment,  have  accumulated  a  com- 
fortable working  capital.  As  the  business  developed,  they  added  to 
the  original  line  leggings,  lamb's  wool  and  bound  cork  insoles,  and 
sundry  specialties.  Mr.  Wiley  has  patented  several  inventions  which 
add  materially  to  the  superiority  of  his  goods.  For  a  number  of 
years  the  firm  have  had  a  series  of  important  contracts  for  the  sup- 
ply of  both  the  army  and  navy  departments.  The  Hartford  Fire 
Insurance  Company  is  now  building  a  commodious  factor}-  for  their 
use,  the  old  quarters  having  become  too  narrow  for  their  growing 
trade. 


144  THE    CITY    0F    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

THE   CAPEWELL    HORSE    NAIL   COMPANY. 

This  company  was  organized  in  1881,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000, 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  horse  shoe  nails  upon  machines,  in- 
vented and  patented  by  the  well-known  inventor,  George  J.  Capewell, 
who  had  spent  several  years  in  constructing  and  perfecting  his 
invention,  which  is,  indeed,  a  marvel  of  mechanical  ingenuity. 

This  machine  is  thoroughly  automatic  in  its  working,  and  one  of 
them  will  produce  more  nails  in  a  specified  time  than  could  be  made 
by  one  hundred  blacksmiths  by  hand. 

By  the  process  of  manufacture,  which  is  new  and  peculiar  to  this 
machine,  the  metal  is  greatly  improved  in  quality,  and  the  nails  so 
made  are  far  superior  to  those  produced  by  any  other   known  system. 

Not  only  throughout  the  United  States,  but  also  in  Europe,  the 
"  Capewell "  horse  nail  is  recognized  as  the  "  best "  both  in  quality 
and  "finish."  Factory,  133  Sheldon  street.  E.  C.  Lewis,  president; 
George  J.  Capewell,  vice-president  and  superintendent ;  A.  W.  C. 
Williams,  treasurer ;    C.  A.  Mason,  secretary. 

THE    THORNE    TYPE-SETTING    AND    DISTRIBUTING    MACHINE. 

For  more  than  forty  years  inventors  in  Europe  and  America  have 
striven  to  produce  a  machine  capable  of  rescuing  the  art  of  type-set- 
ting from  the  field  of  manual  labor.  It  is  the  only  large  industry  in 
which  the  work  is  performed  to-day  as  it  was  nearly  four  centuries 
ago  when  the  first  printed  books  were  given  to  the  world.  This 
mechanical  problem,  long  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  difficult 
which  has  ever  tortured  the  resources  of  human  ingenuity,  has  at 
last  found  its  successful  solution  in  Hartford. 

The  inventor,  abandoning  the  beaten  paths  in  which  millions  of 
dollars  had  been  lost,  found  in  the  utilization  of  the  rotary  principle 
the  key  which  unlocked  the  door  of  the  treasure-house.  If  the 
original  idea  flashed  upon  him  as  an  inspiration,  he  was  still  com- 
pelled at  heavy  cost  of  thought  and  money  to  toil  on  through  many 
years  before  the  conception  finally  became  embodied  in  its  present 
practical  form. 

Over  thirty  machines  are  in  use,  and  the  company  is  now  turn- 
ing  them    out    at    the    rate    of    one    a   week,    with    orders    for    several 


THE    THORNE    MACHINE    COMPANY. 


145 


months  in  advance.  In  the  evolution  of  the  industry  the  demand 
will  enlarge  indefinitely,  involving  the  indirect  transfer  of  a  large 
volume  of  labor  from  the  case  of  the  printer  to  the  shop  of  the 
manufacturer.  While  industrial  revolutions  bring  individual  hard- 
ships, the  production  of  the  type-setter  promises  to  add  materially 
to  the  force  of  skilled  mechanics  employed  in  the  city. 

The  Evening  Post  of  Hartford,  and  leading  monthlies  like  the 
Forum  and  Current  Literature,  have  for  months  depended  on  the 
Thome  machine,  and  more  than  a  hundred  first-class  books  like 
Logan's  "  American  Conflict "  have  been  produced  in  the  same  way, 
thereby  saving  one-half  in  the  cost  of  composition.  Several  have 
gone  to  England  and  Ireland,  and  others  for  the  British  Isles  are 
ordered.  A  detailed  and  technical  description  of  the  type-setter,  with 
the  opinions  of  printers  who  have  tested  its  capabilities,  can  be 
obtained  by  addressing  the  Thorne  Machine  Company,   Hartford. 

The  factory  is  located  in  one  of  the  wings  of  Colt's  Armory. 
R.  W.   Nelson  is  president  and  treasurer. 


THdrnk    TYPE-SETTING    AND    DISTRIBUTING     M  UHINE. 


I46  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    COXN. 

THE    SMYTH     MANUFACTURING    COMPANY. 

This  company  was  organized  in  December,  1879,  for  the  purpose 
of  perfecting  a  machine  to  sew  books  with  thread,  —  a  thing  which 
had  always  theretofore  been  clone  by  hand. 

The  company  has  been  eminently  successful,  and  is  now  produc- 
ing a  marvelously  perfect  machine,  which  sews  books  with  such 
uniformity,  flexibility,  and  strength  that  the  best  hand-sewed  work  is 
inferior  by  comparison. 

The  work  is  done  with  great  rapidity  and  absolute  certainty,  and 
in  accomplished  results  reduces  very  largely  the  cost  of  book- 
making. 

The  company  has  taken  out  patents  and  established  agencies  in 
all   parts  of  the  world  where  to   any  extent  books  are  made. 

The  company  proposes  to  furnish  the  book-binding  trade  with 
machines  adapted  to  all  classes  of  work,  either  edition,  blank,  or 
pamphlet. 

Capital,   $300,000. 

C.  C.  Kimball,  president;  J.   S.  Tryon,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

I.    J.    STEANE    &    COMPANY. 

This  firm  manufactures  silver-plated  hollow-ware.  It  was  estab- 
lished in  1879,  in  New  York  City,  where  it  did  a  successful  business. 
In  1887,  attracted  by  the  centrality  of  the  town  to  the  electro-plating 
industry,  it  moved  to  Hartford,  bringing  a  corps  of  skilled  workmen. 
The  firm  and  its  connections  bought  the  large  building  in  the  rear 
of  Market  street  known  as  Kohn's  Hall,  where  the  facilities  for  the 
extension  of  the  business  are  great.  The  company  employs  100 
hands,  disburses  over  $40,000  a  year  in  wages,  and  is  pleased  with 
the  location. 

CHARLES    H.     DRESSER. 

In  1 88 1,  in  a  room  twelve  by  fifteen  feet,  Charles  H.  Dresser,  in 
company  with  Joseph  C.  Wybell,  began  business,  having  no  capital  in 
money,  but  rich  in  hopefulness  and  in  the  determination  to  execute 
with  fidelity  whatever  he  should  undertake.  In  1887,  the  firm  had 
met  with  sufficient  success  to  buy  a  lot  and  build  a  factory  of  two 
stories,   130  by  50   feet,  and  to  equip  it  with  the  most   approved  tools 


CHARLES    H.    DRESSER.  I47 

and  machinery.  Early  in  1889,  Mr.  Dresser  bought  the  interest  of 
his  partner,  and  is  now  sole  proprietor.  At  the  present  time,  on  a 
conservative  inventory,  the  net  value  of  the  plant  exceeds  $15,000,  a 
fact  which  we  have  obtained  reluctant  permission  to  state,  because  it 
is  fairly  typical  of  quite  a  large  class  of  parallel  cases  in  Hartford, 
all  of.  which  go  to  show  that  industry,  directed  by  intelligence,  can 
find  here,  among  the  advantages  of  a  high  civilization,  abundant  and 
certain  avenues  to  success. 

In  addition  to  general  work,  Mr.  Dresser  manufactures  store,  office, 
and  bank  fixtures,  many  beautiful  specimens  of  which  are  to  be  found 
here  and  in  other  cities.  He  employs  20  men,  and  pays  §13,000 
yearly  in  wages.     Factory,   225-235   Sheldon. 

I.  B.  Davis  &  Son  manufacture  Berryman  heaters  and  pumps,  40 
Cushman. 

The  Dwight  Slate  Machine  Company  manufacture  machinery 
and  tools,  262  Main. 

Hills'    Archimedean    Lawn    Mower    Company,  rear    66    Market. 

Hitchcock  &  Curtiss  Knitting  Company  manufacture  mittens, 
gloves,  and  seamless  half-hose,   1189  Broad. 

The  Kellogg  &  Bulkeley  Company,  lithographers  and  wood 
engravers,   175   Pearl. 

P.  Amerman  &  Son,  manufacturers  of  iron  and  steel  marine,  sta- 
tionary, and  portable  steam  boilers,   109  Commerce. 

Atlantic  Screw  Works,  David  Tilton,  proprietor,  70  Huyshope. 

A.  D.  Worthington,  book  publisher,  438  Asylum. 

Park  Publishing  Company,  284  Asylum. 

S.   S.   Scranton  &   Co.,  book  publishers,   281    Asylum. 

Hunt  &  Holbrook,  manufacturers  of  boots,  44  Union  Place. 

The  Connecticut  Motor  Company,  manufacturers  of  automatic 
electric  motors,  42   Union  Place. 

Wm.  H.  Lockwood,  electrotyper.  Special  attention  given  to  wood 
cuts  and  job  work.     41    Trumbull. 

James  H.  Ashmead  &  Son,  gold  beaters,  41   Trumbull. 


I48  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

Charles  P.  Hatch  &  Co.  manufacture  the  "  non-slip,  everlasting 
belt.''  302   Asylum. 

The  Bonsilate  Box  Company  make  insulating  materials,  24  Me- 
chanic. 

Fred.   C.  Rockwell,  manufacturer  of  packing  boxes,  20  Potter. 

The  Mansuy  Carriage  Manufacturing  Company  make,  by  hand, 
carriages  of  all  standard  styles,  to  order,   at  Nos.   17-21    Elm. 

The  National  Machine  Company,  H.  C.  Baker  and  R.  Critten- 
den, practical  workmen  and  mechanical  engineers,  133  Sheldon,  make 
special  machinery  and  tools. 

E.  H.  Judd,  engineer  and  machinist,  builder  of  Hamilton's  inde- 
pendent air  pump  and  condenser  for  steam  engines.  Engine  repairing 
a  specialty.     22  and  24  Mechanic. 

Wm.  L.  &  H.  E.  Pitkin,  manufacturers  of  sterling  silver  spoons, 
forks,  etc.,   174  Pearl. 

Wm.  L.  Whittemore  &  Son,  brush  makers,  97  Asylum. 

Williams  &  Carleton,  manufacturers  of  druggists'  and  grocers' 
shelf  goods,  206-8  State. 

Hartford  Wire  Works,  floral  designs,  flower  stands,  window  and 
door  guards,  window  screens,  office  railings,  etc.,  347  Asylum. 

C.  F.  Baker,  gold,  silver,  and  nickel  plating.  Orders  left  at  342 
Main. 

Chilton  Manufacturing  Company,  white  lead,  colors,  and  mixed 
paints,  24  Potter. 

Park  Knitting  Works,  woolen  mittens,  gloves,  and  seamless 
socks,  438  Asylum. 

Patrick  Laragy,  manufacturer  of  light  and  heavy  castings,  and 
machine  work,   114  Grove. 

Phcenix  Wood  Working  Company,  manufacturers  of  wood  man- 
tels, stairs,  store  fixtures,  etc.  Wood  sawing  and  turning.  Rear  17 
Albany  avenue. 

The  Taft  Company,  natural  and  artificial  wood  ornaments.  Rear 
j  7  Albany  avenue. 


MISCELLANEOUS    BUSINESS    HOUSES.  I49 

The    Hartford    Heel    Plate   Company   manufacture    heel    plates, 
and  machines  for  inserting  them  in  rubber  shoes.     5  Grove. 

The  Consolidated  Chemical  Engine  Company  make  chemical 
engines  and  fire  extinguishers.     7  Grove. 

W.  H.  Pickering  &  Co.,  makers  of  special  machinery  and  tools. 
Repairing  of  steam  engines  a  specialty,     no  Commerce. 

Hartford  Silver  Plate  Company,  silver-plated  ware.  Factory 
and  office,  28  High. 

Hartford  Chemical  Company  manufacture  lavine,  30  Union  pi. 

A.  Mugford,  engraver  on  wood,  63  Asylum. 

Arms  Pocket  Book  Company,  manufacturers  of  pocket  books,  bill- 
books,  card  and  letter  cases,  memorandums,  etc.,  336  Asylum. 

Star  Printing  Company,  general  mercantile  printing  and  wood 
engraving,  336  Asylum. 

The  Calhoun  Printing  Company  make  a  specialty  of  wood  en- 
graving and  color  printing,  66  State. 

Wiley,  Waterman  &  Eaton,  book  and  job  printers,  354-56  Asylum. 

A.  W.  Lang,  commercial  and  society  printing,  66  State. 

The  Fowler  &  Miller  Company,  printers.  Illustrated  catalogues 
and  job  printing,  341   Main. 

Clark  &  Smith,  book  and  job  printers,  362  Main.  Established 
1865. 

William  H.  Talcott  &  Brother,  practical  book-binders  and  first- 
class  blank  book  manufacturers,  338  Main. 

D.  B.  Moseley's  Sons,  newspaper  and  job  printing,  336  Asylum. 

J.  B.  Burr  &  Company,  manufacturers  of  advertising  books  and 
tablets,  and  of  blank  forms,  336  Asylum. 

A.  W.  Scoville,  architect,  builder,  wood  carver,  etc.,  286-90  Sheldon. 

Strickland  &  Shea,  scroll  sawing,  turning,  carving,  ornamental 
wood  work,  mouldings.    Church  work  and  mantels  a  specialty,  133  Sheldon. 

Alfred  T.  Ricker,  Hartford  Moulding  Works,  manufacturer  of 
mouldings  of  every  description  for  builders  and  picture-frame  dealers. 
133  Sheldon. 


150  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

H.    N.    Jones    &    Company,    makers    of    sash,    doors,    and    blinds. 
Planing,  scroll  sawing,  etc.,  150,  162   Main. 

Dwight  Cushman,  manufacturer  of  water  wheels,  223  State. 

W.  H.    Dodd   &    Company,   lithographers,  manufacturers   of   labels 
and  show  cards,  commercial  and  color  work,  42  Union  Place. 

L.   T.  Frisbie    &    Son,  manufacturers    of    soap    and    candles,  77-9 
Talcott. 

Hamlin   Pump    Company,    manufacturers    of   patent   elastic   rubber 
bucket  pumps,  and  packing  cases,  21   Union. 

Hartford  Cement  Tile  Company,  69  Commerce. 

The  Peerless  Wire  Mattress,  287  Sheldon. 

F.    Schroeder,  manufacturer    of  choice  confectionery.     Store,   373 
Main  ;    factory  on  Morgan. 

E.  J.  Hoadley,  manufacturer  of  specialties  in  confectionery  for  the 
jobbing  trade  exclusively,  Pond  Place. 

E.    H.    Williams,    manufacturer    of    fine    confectionery,    including 
specialties,  236  Asylum. 

John  Curley,  manufacturer  of  confectionery,  575  Main. 

Paul  W.  Krajewski,  manufacturer  of  confectionery,  32  Temple. 

Charles     Soby,    manufacturer    of    choice    copyrighted    brands     of 
cigars.     Employs  70  hands.     349  Main. 

Krug,     Powers    &    Company,   manufacturers    of    fine    cigars,    267 
Main. 

E.  Leschke  &  Company,  cigar  manufacturers,  469  Main. 

^Etna   Pyrotechnic    Company,   manufacturers    of    patent     colored 
fire  torches,  colored  fire,  etc.,  for  night  parades. 

Smith  Medicated  Prune  Company,  438  Asylum. 

T.  J.   Blake  &  Son,  38  and  40  Ferry,  manufacturers   of   all    kinds 
of  copper  work,  brass  castings,  Babbitt  metal,  etc. 

^Etna  Brass  Foundry,  114  Grove. 

The  Phoznix  Brass  Foundry  Company,  33  Wells. 

C.  Birkey,   jobber  in  brass  work,  ^t,  Wells. 


MISCELLANEOUS    BUSINESS    HOUSES.  151 

C.  J.  Callaghan,  manufacturer  of  paper  boxes,  paper  cap  tubes, 
and  paper   rolls   for  mailing   purposes,   44  Union   Place. 

C.  F.  Nichols,  manufacturer  of  paper  boxes.  Druggists',  jewelers*, 
and    silverware    boxes    a   specialty,  78   Market. 

Alfred  Teweles,  manufacturer  of  fancy  boxes  and  cases,  78 
Market. 

F.    H.   Hastings,   maker  of   cigar   boxes,  rear   341   Main. 

F.  C.  Sturtevant,  mills  at  162-66  Commerce,  manufacturer  of 
granulated  oyster  shells  and  poultry  supplies,  "  Imperial  egg  food." 
Grinds  annually  750  tons  of  oyster  shells. 

E.  M.  Roberts  &  Son,  established-  1825,  manufacturers  of  solid 
silver  and  plated  ware,  76  Market.  Mr.  Roberts  is  said  to  be  the 
oldest  maker  of  solid  silver  ware  in   New  England. 

H.  B.  Beach  &  Son,  135  Grove,  makers  of  marine  and  stationery 
boilers,  also  of  plate  and  sheet  iron  work.     (See  page   139.) 

J.  R.  Topping,  pattern  and  model  maker.  Good  and  correct  work 
guaranteed.     262   Main. 

Woodward  &  Rogers,  manufacturers  of  drills,  tapping  machines, 
surface  grinders,  special  machinery,  etc.,   262   Main. 

Hogan  Manufacturing  Companv,  water  closets,  262  Main. 

Jones  &  Little,  pattern  and  model  makers,  wood  turning,  scroll 
sawing,   and  shop  jobbing  done,  33  Wells. 

Edred  W.  Clark,  manufacturer  of  rubber  molds,  presses,  and 
rubber  tubing  machinery,  31   Wells. 

Hartford  Glass  Water  Closet  Company,   147  Commerce. 

Eagle  Eyelet  Works,  24  Mechanic. 

R.  B.  Hugunin,  patent  screw  sash  balance,  97  Asylum. 

» 
T.  M.  Parker,  maker  of  seals,  stamps,  etc.,  63  Asylum. 


Ottyer  peatures  of  Jiartford. 


STREETS -SEWERAGE- FIRE     DEPARTMENT -GAS- 
ELECTRICITY— STREET     RAILWAYS  — POLICE — 
HALLS— HOTELS. 

IN  many  features  all  old  cities  in  the  United  States  differ  little 
from  one  another.  The  principal  streets  of  Hartford  are  for  the 
most  part  broad,  well  paved,  and  lighted  by  electricity.  Its  main 
business  and  residence  parts  are  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  feet  above 
the  Connecticut  and  the  Park  Rivers,  which  latter  bisects  the  town, 
affording  excellent  facilities  for  sewerage.  It  has  a  paid  fire  depart- 
ment, with  seven  steam  fire  engines,  a  patent  extension  ladder,  about 
16,000  feet  of  serviceable  hose,  and  other  needful  equipments.  Gas 
is  furnished  at  $1.40  per  thousand  feet.  Two  electric  light  companies 
provide  both  the  arc  and  incandescent  systems.  There  are  about 
twelve  and  one-half  miles  of  street  railway,  and  including  double 
tracks,  sixteen  miles,  with  material  extensions  in  immediate  prospect. 
The  police  has  long  been  noted  for  its  efficiency,  and  as  under  the 
appeals  of  the  good  preacher  "  fools  who  came  to  scoff,  remained  to 
pray,"  so  here,  many  thieves  who  came  to  prey  have  remained  to 
plead.  The  recent  (  completion  of  an  armory  by  the  Governor's  Foot 
Guard  adds  a  central,  safe,  and  commodious  place  for  entertainments 
to  the  Academy  of  Music  and  Roberts'  Opera  House.  Smaller  halls 
for  the  use  of  societies  and  other  purposes  exist  in  abundance.  If 
hotels  are  not  so  numerous  as  were  the  "taverns"  of  1818,  the 
improvement  in  quality  more  than  compensates  for  diminution  in 
quantity. 


POPULATION    AND    WEALTH.  1 53 

POPULATION     AND    WEALTH. 

In  1756,  Hartford  ranked  as  the  third  town  in  population  within 
the  present  limits  of  the  county,  Windsor  standing  first  and  Farming- 
ton  second.  Since  then  the.  boundaries  of  each  have  been  materially 
curtailed  by  the  creation  of  new  townships.  The  decennial  census  of 
1790  was  the  first  to  place  Hartford,  with  a  population  of  4,090,  at 
the  front.  During  the  next  thirty  years  growth  was  slow,  the  number 
of  inhabitants  reaching  but  6,901  in  1820,  a  gain  of  less  than  seventy 
per  cent,  while  a  generation  were  crossing  the  stage.  The  population 
increased  to  9,789  in  1830;  12,793  in  1840;  17,966  in  1850;  29,152 
in  i860;  37,743  in  1870;  and  to  42,551  in  1880.  Computations  based 
upon  the  names  in  the  last  issue  of  Geer's  Directory  give  a  popula- 
tion of  57,483  *  for  July,   1888. 

Valuations  of  lands  and  houses,  made  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  of 
the  United  States  in  1799,  gave  to  Hartford  an  aggregate  of  $751,- 
532.91,  and  in  1816  of  $3,168,872.32,  a  gain  of  $2,417,339.41,  or  three 
hundred  and  twenty  per  cent,  in  seventeen  years.  During  the  same 
period  the  increase  in  population  was  less  than  twenty-two  per  cent. 
In  the  comparison  are  strikingly  exhibited  the  natural  advantages  of 
the  location.  It  wras  not  a  season  of  general  prosperity  —  the  outrages 
heaped  upon  our  merchant  marine  by  both  England  and  France  dur- 
ing the  Napoleonic  wars,  the  Embargo  Bill  of  1807,  the  Non-Inter- 
course Act  of  1809,  and  the  war  of  18 12,  having  borne  with  peculiar 
severity  upon  the  commerce  and  industries  of  New  England.  Emi- 
gration to  the  west  in  many  places  nearly  or  quite  balanced  the  gain 
from  births.  Yet  Hartford,  planted  in  the  heart  of  a  fertile  region, 
rapidly  accumulated  wealth  in  spite  of  general  misfortunes. 

The  assessed  value  of  her  property  for  local  and  State  taxation 
was    58.543,866    in    1840;    $11,186,333    in    1850;    $24,813,190    in    i860; 


*  The  census  for  1880  gave  Hartford  a  population  of  42,551,  and  there  were  that 
year  16,658  names  in  the  city  directory.  In  1888,  the  number  of  names  had  in- 
creased to  22,504.  A  sum  in  simple  proportion  should  give  the  number  of  inhab- 
itants in  1888: 

16,658  :  22,504  :  :  42,551  :  57,483. 

It  is  possible  that  from  the  greater  thoroughness  with  which  the  city  is  now 
canvassed  for  the  directory,  the  ratio  is  somewhat  changed  by  the  inclusion  of  a 
larger  percentage  of  persons  who  are  not  heads  of  families. 


154  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  COXX. 

S44.509.427  in  1870;  $47,041,848  in  1880;  and  $48,345,331  in  1887. 
In  a  town  like  Hartford,  the  "grand  list"  gives  an  entirely  inade- 
quate view  of  the  wealth  of  the  people,  because  many  millions  are 
invested  in  manufactures  planted  on  outlying  streams,  and  in  distant 
farms,  houses,  blocks,  railways,  and  ventures  innumerable,  that  pay 
taxes  where  the  properties  are  located.  There  is  always  an  abund- 
ance of  capital  here  seeking  profitable  use,  and  it  can  be  had  by 
convincing  the  owners  that  the  proposed  employment  of  it  is  safe, 
and  promises  reasonable  returns. 

TAXES. 

Among  the  inducements  offered  to  attract  manufacturers,  many 
communities,  especially  at  the  West,  abate  the  taxes  of  new  comers 
for  a  series  of  years.  The  scheme  ignores  the  principle  of  equality 
and  fairness,  which  should  underlie  every  system  for  the  distribution 
of  public  burdens;  discriminates  against  established  concerns,  particu- 
larly in  rival  lines;  and  fails  to  harmonize  with  the  ideas  of  old  and 
conservative  towns. 

Pursuing  a  policy  more  enlightened  and  more  just,  and  fully  rec- 
ognizing the  benefits,  both  direct  and  indirect,  that  accrue  to  a  city 
from  the  inflow  of  skilled  labor,  Hartford,  by  common  consent  and 
with  common  approval,  assesses  manufacturing  properties  with  extreme 
liberality.  In  August  and  September,  1888,  the  secretary  of  the  Board 
called  upon  the  managers  of  the  different  establishments  for  the  col- 
lection of  statistics,  and  so  far  as  he  can  remember  heard  but  a  sin- 
gle complaint  against  the  rate,  and  this  was  founded  on  an  actual 
grievance,  which  was  promptly  corrected  by  the  authorities  on  pre- 
sentation of  the  facts. 

SOLIDITY    OF    OUR     MANUFACTURES. 

Taking  as  a  basis  of  comparison  a  list  of  the  shops  in  the  city, 
great  and  small,  compiled  in  1882,  it  appears  after  exhaustive  investi- 
gation that  the  number  has  since  increased  over  forty  per  cent.,  while 
the  operations  of  several  of  the  more  prominent  have  been  enlarged 
in  a  much  greater  ratio.  Out  of  one  hundred  names  there  catalogued, 
eighty-four  are  still  in  business  here.  Of  the  remaining  sixteen,  four 
have   removed    elsewhere,   one    has   merged    in    a   stronger    local    enter. 


NUMBER  AND  CHARACTER  OF  EMPLOYES.  1 5  5 

prise,  two  have  died,  five  represented  interests  too  'obscure  to  be 
traced,  two  have  failed,  and  three  have  partially  withdrawn  from 
active  operations  through  ill  success,  but  without  loss  to  creditors. 
Confining  attention  to  the  list  of  1882,  without  reference  to  the 
concerns  which  have  come  and  gone  during  the  interval,  six  years 
register  two  bankruptcies  and  three  partial  disasters  only.  Few 
cities  in  any  line  of  effort  can  parallel  this  record  of  endurance 
and  solidity. 

NUMBER*    AND    CHARACTER    OF    EMPLOYES. 

The  manufacturing  establishments  of  Hartford  employ  approxi- 
mately 4,979  men  and  1,329  girls,  disburse  §3,156,600  annually  in 
wages,  and  turn  out  an  annual  product  of  twelve  millions,  the  cost  of 
materials  in  some  bearing  a  high  ratio  to  the  cost  of  labor.  Assum- 
ing that  every  man  thus  engaged  supports  on  an  average  three  and 
two-tenths  persons,  and  that  the  females  simply  take  care  of  them- 
selves, the  shops  of  the  city  maintain  directly  17,261  people.  As  the 
percentage  of  highly  skilled  workmen  is  unusually  large,  embracing 
inventors  and  mechanical  engineers  who  are  continually  improving 
existing  methods  as  well  as  enlarging  the  command  of  man  over  the 
forces  of  nature,  the  value  of  this  component  of  our  population  can 
hardly  be  overestimated. 

The  above  does  not  include  newspaper  offices,  builders,  masons, 
plumbers,  painters,  tailors,  shoemakers,  scattered  workmen  occupied 
mainly  with  repairs,  or  persons  connected  with  the  manufacturing 
departments  of  mercantile  houses. 


*  Since  the  Board  of  Trade  began  systematically  to  collect  statistics  in  August, 
1888,  five  concerns  alone,  at  the  close  of  March,  1889,  report  a  gain  of  over  300  in 
the  number  of  employes  —  another  evidence  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  city  at  the 
present  time.  The  pressure  for  tenements  —  a  fact  of  similar  import  —  suggests  a 
safe  and  profitable  use  for  a  large  amount  of  capital  under  the  eye  of  the  investor. 


i56 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


TRADE. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  the  commonwealth,  Hartford  carried  on  an 
extensive  trade  with  the  West  Indies.  Inland  she  controlled  a  con- 
siderable share  of  the  traffic  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  to  the  sources 
of  the  river.  While  the  advent  of  railways  and  the  increase  of  com- 
mercial centers  have  curtailed  her  field  of  operations,  the  growth  of 
wealth  and  population  nearer  home  has  many  times  made  good  the 
loss.  Of  late  years  the  tendency  in  jobbing  lines  has  been  toward 
concentration  in  a  few  strong  houses  which  sell  upon  narrow  margins 
of  profit,  depending  for  success  upon  skill  in  buying  and  economy  of 
management.  This  ranks  as  one  of  the  best  markets  in  the  United 
States  for  purchasers. 


A 


PS 


H.    C.    JUDD   &    ROOT'S    BUILDING. 


WATER-SUPPLY.  157 

WATER-SUPPLY. 

Hartford  is  exceptionally  fortunate  in  its  water-system  and  water- 
supply.  The  main  source  upon  which  it  relies  is  a  chain  of  reservoirs, 
beginning  six  miles  west  of  the  city,  which  drain  about  twelve  square 
miles  of  wild  mountain-land,  and  thus  secure  water  of  femarkable 
purity.  The  inflow  is  either  from  actual  springs  or  clear  trout 
brooks. 

Five  reservoirs  have  been  built  for  storage,  holding  altogether 
1,300,000,000  gallons.  The  distributing  reservoir  —  lowest,  of  course, 
in  the  group  —  is  265  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Connecticut 
river.  Two  cast  iron  mains  of  20  inches  diameter  bring  the  water  to 
the  city,  and  there  are  80  miles  of  supply  pipes  in  the  streets,  mak- 
ing it  available  for  every  house.  Its  pure  quality  renders  it  especially 
adapted  to  steam  purposes,  as  it  is  free  from  the  matter  injurious  to 
boilers  so  often  found  in  ordinary  water  supplies. 

To  meet  the  remote  possibility  of  failure  of  the  storage  system, 
the  city  has  ample  pumping  machinery  ready  for  use  at  an  hour's 
notice,  which  will  drive  3,000,000  gallons  a  day  into  a  distributing 
reservoir  on  Garden  street,  125  feet  above  the  river  level.  No  failure 
is  anticipated,  and  no  accident  to  cause  a  stoppage  is  considered 
possible  under  the  present  systematic  method  of  arrangement ;  but  in 
case  of  such  remote  emergency,  the  city  would  hardly  be  aware  of  the 
change,  and  could  in  no  event  suffer  from  serious  lack  of  water. 
The  whole  system  is  under  efficient  management.  A  resident 
engineer  is  in  charge  of  the  chain  of  reservoirs,  with  telephone  com- 
munication with  the  main  office  of  the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners 
in  the  city.  The  region  occupied  by  the  reservoirs  is  a  wild,  unin- 
habited country  (thus  avoiding  the  danger  of  pollution),  and  the  water 
commissioners,  to  facilitate  the  necessary  work  of  maintenance  and 
repair,  have  built  a  drive-way  seven  and  one-fourth  miles  in  length 
about  the  reservoirs,  which  practically  makes  a  park  of  the  wilderness. 


1 1.58) 


MEMORIAL    ARCH    (TRINITY    STREET). 


(160) 


PARKS. 


161 


PARKS. 

Bushnell  Park,*  not  far  from  the  center  of  the  city,  was  laid  out 
in  1853,  and  accepted  by  a  popular  vote  in  1854,  largely  through  the 
influence  and  efforts  of  Horace  Bushnell,  D.  D.  With  the  additions 
purchased  from  Trinity  College  for  the  site  and  surroundings  of  the 
new  Capitol,  it  contains  neafly*fifty  acres.  A  surface,  sloping  from 
the  high  and  romantic  bluff  on  the  west  to  the  meadows  that  skirt 
the  stream  which  bears  its  name,  offers  to  the  eye  varied  and  attract- 
ive views.  The  grounds,  shaded  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  distinct 
varieties  of  trees,  are  artistically  laid  out  and  carefully  tended.  Here 
are  to  be  seen  bronze  statues  of  General  Israel  Putnam  and  Dr. 
Horace  Wells,  the  discoverer  of  anaesthesia;  also  the  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  Memorial  Arch,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  impressive 
monuments  thus  far  erected  to  keep  in  remembrance  the  services  of 
the  heroes  who  died  on  land  and  sea  to  preserve  the  Union.  It  was 
designed  by  George  Kellar,  an  architect  of  Hartford. 

Scattered  about  the  city  are  half  a  dozen  other  small  parks.  The 
grounds  of  the  Retreat  for  the  Insane,  containing  twenty-five  acres  of 
lawn  and  shade,  are  open  to  visitors  in  the  afternoon,  except  on  Sun- 
days, while  the  fields  belonging  to  the  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb  have  an  unoccupied  area  of  about  twelve  acres  in  the  heart 
of  the  residence  part  of  the  town. 


For  view,  see  page  78. 


EAST    VIEW    OF    THE    STONE    BRIDGE    (MAIN    STREET). 


refill! 


FIRST    STATE    HOUSE. 


SECOND    STATE    HOUSE    (NOW    CITY    HALL). 


(162) 


PUBLIC    BUILDINGS.  163 


jy 


illirir  SiJluji^ii^fnj^ 


PRESENT    STATE    CAPITOL. 

PUBLIC     BUILDINGS. 

The  first  State  house  in  Hartford,  a  wooden  structure  70  by  30 
feet,  was  built  in  1719-20,  in  front  of  the  present  City  Hall.  On  the 
second  floor  were  two  rooms  for  the  meetings  of  the  two  houses,  with 
a  hall  between.  As  the  second  story  was  supported  by  columns,  the 
entire  lower  floor  was  available  for  public  gatherings.  In  the  garret 
were  stored  the  arms  of  the  militia.  Previous  to  its  erection,  the 
general  court  met  at  the  church.  The  original  building  served  the 
State  for  three-fourths  of  a  century. 

The  second  State  house,  built  of  brick,  with  brown-stone  trim- 
mings, was  completed  in  1796,  at  a  cost  of  $52,000.  It  was  a  costly 
structure  for  the  period,  and  various  devices,  including  the  inevitable 
lottery,  were  resorted  to  to  raise  the  funds  for  its  completion.  It  is 
now  used  for  municipal  offices  and  for  the  meetings  of  the  common 
council. 

The  present  capitol,  on  the  elevated  plateau  near  the  western 
border  of  Bushnell  Park,  is  a  fire-proof  marble  structure,  a  trifle  over 
295  feet  long,  with  a  depth  in  the  center  of  189  feet,  and  a  height  to 
the  top  of  the  crowning  figure  of  256  feet.  In  addition  to  commo- 
dious halls  for  the  senate  and  house,  and  rooms  for  legislative  com- 
mittees and  executive  officers  and  commissions,  it  furnishes  accommo- 
dations for  the  supreme  court  of  the  State,  and  for  the  State  library. 
In  the  western  vestibule  are  deposited  the  faded  and  tattered  battle- 
flags  borne  by  Connecticut  regiments  during  the  war,   overlooked   by 


164  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

a  bronze  statue  of  Governor  Buckingham.  Statues  in  marble  of  emi- 
nent sons  of  the  commonwealth  adorn  the  exterior  walls,  and  this  is 
but  the  beginning  of  the  work.  Ground  was  broken  in  1872,  and  the 
building  was  ready  for  occupancy  in  1878.  Up  to  January,  1885,  the 
total  expenditure  for  land,  construction,  furniture,  and  belongings, 
reached  $3,342,550.  For  architectural  beauty,  convenience,  and  solid- 
ity, it  has  received  unstinted  praise  from  visitors  best  qualified  to 
pass  judgment  on  its  merits.  A  commission  of  five  gentlemen  had 
entire  supervision  of  the  work,  and  to  the  lasting  honor  of  the  State 
the  task  was  performed  with  the  most  scrupulous  integrity  —  a  state- 
ment, unhappily,  that  can  be  made  of  few  great  public  undertakings. 

In  the  rear  of  the  City  Hall  stands  the  government  building, 
which  furnishes  quarters  for  the  post-office,  the  United  States  Court, 
and  the  collection  of  customs.  It  is  of  cut  granite,  three  stories 
high,  with  mansard  roof.  It  was  begun  in  1873,  and  completed  in 
1883,  at  a  cost  of  $874,29^,  the  ground  having  been  given  by  the 
city. 

Much  less  imposing  is  the  Arsenal,  built  in  18 12,  on  an  acre  of 
land  bought  for  the  purpose.  Though  the  yard  bristles  with  cannon 
and  other  emblems  of  war,  the  structure  itself  falls  far  short  of  the 
dignity  of  a  fortress. 

The  town  and  probate  records  are  kept  in  a  fire-proof  building  at 
the  corner  of  Pearl  and  Trumbull  streets.  Here,  also,  are  the  offices 
of  the  assessors  and  collector. 

Hartford  County  (together  with  New  Haven,  New  London,  and 
Fairfield  counties)  was  organized  in  1666.  It  then  included  about 
half  of  the  whole  area  of  the  colony  limits.  Hartford  was  the  shire- 
town  as  it  is  to-day.  Until  the  present  County  building  was  erected, 
the  County  offices  were  mainly  in  the  State  House ;  but  some  were 
in  rented  apartments.  In  1881,  the  County  voted  to  erect  a  building 
of  its  own.  Having  purchased  a  tract  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Trumbull  and  Allyn  streets,  at  an  expense  of  about  $55,000,  it  pro- 
ceeded to  erect  the  present  structure,  completed  in  1884,  at  a  cost  of 
$175,000. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  new  County  building  is  well  shown 
in  the  illustration.  It  is  a  fire-proof  structure,  80  feet  wide  and  141 
feet  in  length.     Its  external  walls    are   of   pressed    brick,   with   rubbed 


ARSENAL. 


- 


PliMSi 


f  mm  *  liJiMlliEwIil  fcr 


,»>- 


POST-OFFICE. 


(16s) 


1 66 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


brown-stone  trimmings.  In  it  are  the  Superior  Court  rooms  (civil 
and  criminal),  court  of  Common  Pleas,  judges'  rooms,  jury  rooms, 
State  Attorney's  office,  room  for  members  of  the  bar,  clerks'  offices, 
library,  Sheriff's  office,  County  Commissioners'  and  Treasurer's  offices, 
and  vaults  in  which  are  contained  the  archives  of  the  County  for 
more   than   200  years. 

PUBLIC     LIBRARIES. 


ATHEN/EUM.  ^ 

In  1839,  the  Librarian  Company,  organized  in  1774,  and  afterwards 
known  as  the  Hartford  Library  Company,  was  merged  in  the  Hartford 
Young  Men's  Institute,  conveying  to  it  three  thousand  volumes.  In 
1842,  largely  through  the  munificence  of  Daniel  Wadsworth,  the  Wads- 
worth  Athenaeum  was  incorporated,  and  proceeded  to  erect  the  build- 
ing since  known  by  that  name.  It  was  arranged  in  three  divisions, 
the  northern  for  the  Institute,  the  central  for  an  art  gallery,  and  the 
southern  for  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society.  It  has  a  frontage  of 
one  hundred  feet,  and  a  depth  of  seventy  in  the  wings,  and  eighty  in 
the  main  body.  The  style  of  architecture  is  castellated  Gothic,  and 
the  material  cream-colored  granite. 

In  1878,  the  corporate  name  of  the  Institute  was  changed  to  the 
Hartford  Library  Association.  It  now  contains  about  35,000  volumes, 
in  which  the  element  of  standard  and  current  literature  is  largely  rep- 


1 68  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

resented.  A  small  annual  fee  is  charged  for  the  privilege  of  draw- 
ing books,  as  the  income  from  assets  is  alone  insufficient  to  meet 
running  expenses  and  to  buy  new  works  as  they  appear. 

Another  public-spirited  citizen,  David  Watkinson,  at  his  death,  in 
1857,  bequeathed  $100,000,  with  a  residuary  interest  in  his  estate,  for 
the  establishment  of  a  free  library  of  reference  in  connection  with 
the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  giving  $5,000  more  to  enlarge  the 
building  for  the  purpose.  It  was  opened  to  the  public  in  Septem- 
ber, 1866,  and  its  privileges  are  free  to  citizens  and  visitors.  Janu- 
ary 1,  1889,  its  shelves  held  42,521  volumes,  selected  on  account  of 
special  and  permanent  value,  at  a  cost  of  $92,525. 

The  State  Library  of  Connecticut,  open  daily  for  consultation  in 
the  spacious  quarters  assigned  to  it  in  the  new  capitol,  contains  about 
12,000  volumes,  including  many  valuable  manuscripts,  and  rare  works 
relating  to  the  history  of  the  commonwealth,  and  the  law  reports  of 
other  States.  It  is  one  of  the  best  collections  of  the  kind  in  the 
country.  The  walls  of  the  room  are  adorned  with  the  portraits  of 
the  governors  of  the  Colony  and  State,  the  series  being  nearly 
complete. 

There  are  other  large  libraries  not  strictly  public,  but  readily 
accessible  to  scholars  interested  in  particular  lines  of  research.  That 
of  Trinity  College  contains  over  29,000  volumes,  besides  16,000  un- 
bound pamphlets,  and  that  of  the  Hartford  Theological  Seminary,  43,000 
volumes,,  with  15,000  pamphlets.  The  public  schools,  professional 
societies,  and  the  various  associations  formed  for  charitable  purposes, 
have  their  respective  libraries,  making  an  aggregate,  for  the  city,  of 
over  280,000  volumes. 

THE    CONNECTICUT    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 

was  incorporated  in  1825,  "for  the  purpose  of  discovering,  procuring, 
and  preserving  whatever  may  relate  to  the  civil,  ecclesiastical,  and 
natural  history  of  the  United  States,  and  especially  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut."  It  has  always  included  among  its  officers  and  mem- 
bers many  names  prominent  in  literature  and  education,  and  in  the 
affairs  of  church  and  State.  In  1844,  the  society  was  provided  with 
permanent  quarters  in  the  south  wing  of  the  Athenaeum,  founded  by 
the  generous  donor  in  part  for   its  accommodation.     At  the   death  of 


THE  ATHEX.EUM  ART  GALLERY.  169 

Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  D.  D.,  in  1856,  his  library  became  the  prop- 
erty of  the  society.  He  had  been  a  pioneer  in  exploring  the  dark 
corners  of  ancient  garrets  in  search  of  old  books  and  pamphlets,  and 
the  collection  gathered  under  such  favorable  conditions  is  now  in- 
valuable. The  society,  through  gift  and  purchase,  has  accumulated 
many  historical  portraits,  relics,  and  manuscripts.  Its  library  contains 
22,000  volumes,  which,  with  pamphlets  and  manuscripts,  are  open  to 
the  inspection  of  students,  under  needful  regulations.  The  public 
have   free  access  to  the  privileges  of  the  rooms. 

A  few  of  the  articles  preserved  here  may  be  mentioned,  as  illus- 
trative of  the  broad  scope  of  the  undertaking.  Among  them  are  the 
box  which  brought  the  charter  from  Charles  II. ;  Elder  Brewster's 
chair  which  came  in  the  Mayflower;  General  Putnam's  sword  and 
tavern  sign ;  Benedict  Arnold's  watch ;  the  shirt  and  vest  worn  by 
Colonel  Ledyard  when  murdered  with  his  own  sword  at  the  storming 
of  Fort  Griswold ;  Nathan  Hale's  camp  basket  and  powder  horn ;  a 
mail  bag,  about  the  size  of  a  modern  reticule,  used  in  1775  between 
Hartford  and  New  Haven ;  many  Indian  weapons  and  implements,  etc. 

Some  things  are  not  to  be  found  here.  Early  in  the  war  a  well 
dressed  woman  from  a  distance,  after  inspecting  with  interest  the 
various  curiosities,  asked  to  be  shown  the  whistle  for  which  Benjamin 
Franklin  paid  too  dear,  as  she  had  been  told  that  it  belonged  to  the 
society.  Never  caught  napping,  the  lady  in  charge  submitted  to  her 
gaze  an  ancient  pitch-pipe,  after  due  examination  of  which  the  visitor 
departed,  fully  satisfied  that  she  had  seen  the  instrument  which 
sounded  the  key-note  to  the  wisdom  of  Poor  Richard's  proverbs. 

THE    ATHENAEUM    ART    GALLERY. 

A  valuable  collection  of  paintings,  originally  brought  together  as  a 
loan  exhibition,  was  purchased  by  subscription  in  1855,  and  presented 
to  the  Athenaeum.  It  includes  the  battles  of  Bunker  Hill,  Trenton, 
and  Princeton,  the  death  of  General  Montgomery,  and  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  by  Colonel  Trumbull;  Mount  yEtna,  by  Thomas 
Cole;  Benjamin  West,  by  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence;  many  choice  por- 
traits, landscapes,  etc.  The  lower  floor  is  devoted  to  statuary  and 
models.  In  1863,  the  number  of  paintings  reached  139,  and  some 
possessing   great    interest    have    since    been    added,    among    them    the 


170 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CQNN. 


Fight  in  Mobile  Bay.  Under  the  patronage  a/id  supervision  of  the 
Hartford  Art  Society,  an  art  class  meets  regularly  at  the  rooms  for 
competent  instruction.  The  galleries  are  open  to  the  public  without 
charge. 

A  family  long  and  prominently  identified  with  the  affairs  of  Hart- 
ford has  recently  offered  to  give  $250,000,  provided  the  amount  is 
increased  by  the  subscriptions  of  others  to  $400,000,  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  free  library  and  art  gallery.  The  work  of  raising  the 
money  is  now  in  progress.  The  plan  contemplates  the  erection  of  a 
large  and  ornamental  fire-proof  building  for  the  uses  of  the  Historical 
Society,  the  Athenaeum,  and  the  Watkinson  and  Hartford  libraries, 
and  also  the  creation  of  a  permanent  fund,  the  income  from  which 
can  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  books  and  works  of  art. 


GOODWIN    BLOCK. 


THE  CHARTER  AND  THE  CHARTER  OAK. 


171 


THE  OLD  CHARTER  OAK. 


THE  CHARTER  AND  THE  CHARTER  OAK. 

The  charter  procured  from  Charles  II  by  Gov.  John  Winthrop 
in  April,  1662,  secured  to  Connecticut  the  right  of  independent  self- 
government,  which  the  people  had  in  reality  exercised  from  the  date 
of  the  first  settlement.  At  the  time  when  the  extraordinary  privi- 
leges were  granted,  the  youthful  monarch  and  his  venal  court  had 
not  learned  the  pecuniary  value  of  such  franchises.  As  the  domain 
included  in  the  grant  extended  westward  to  the  South  Sea,  the  New 
Haven  Colony,  hitherto  independent,  was  soon  forced  to  accept  the 
union  which  has  been  so  beneficial  and  honorable  to  both.  Toward 
the  close  of  the  reign  of  Charles  II  strenuous  efforts  were  put  forth 
by  the  agents  of  the  king  to  secure  an  annulment  of  the  charter. 

After  the  death  of  Charles,  Sir  Edmund  Andros  arrived  in 
December,  1686,  armed  with  a  commission  from  James  II  as  gover- 
nor of  New  England,  and  fully  determined  to  extend  his  authority 
over  Connecticut.  October  31,  1687,  attended  by  a  retinue  of  sol- 
diers, he  came  to  Hartford  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
charter.  The  General  Court  met  at  the  inn  to  confer  with  the  royal 
governor.  In  the  evening  the  charter  was  brought  in  and  laid  upon 
the  table.  Suddenly,  according  to  the  tradition,  the  lights  were  ex 
tinguished,  and  in  the  darkness  Capt.  Joseph  Wadsworth  carried  off 
the   precious   document   and    secreted   it   in   a    hollow  tree.     When  the 


Ij2  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

candles  were  relighted  the  paper  was  not  to  be  found,  and  no  one 
could  explain  its  disappearance.  A  few  months  later  James  II  was 
deposed,  and  in  May,  1689,  the  charter  government  was  resumed  as 
if  no  interruption  had  occurred.  It  practically  remained  in  force 
until  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution  in   18 18. 

The  original  charter,  engrossed  on  parchment  and  enclosed  in  a 
frame  made  in  part  from  the  wood  of  the  tree  which  concealed  it, 
hangs  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  in  the  Capitol. 

The  charter  oak,  ever  an  object  of  affectionate  veneration,  was 
blown  clown  in  the  gale  of  August  21,  1856.  It  measured  twenty-one 
feet  in  circumference  seven  feet  above  the  ground,  and  thirty-three 
feet  at  the  base.  A  computation  made  by  Prof.  John  Brocklesby, 
from  the  prostrate  trunk,  fixed  its  age  at  nearly  a  thousand  years, 
showing  that  it  must  have  been  a  lusty  tree  when  the  Normans  con- 
quered England.  The  name  has  been  borrowed  by  many  public  and 
private  enterprises. 

SCHOOLS. 

One  might  have  assumed  with  reason  that  the  people  who  formed 
the  Connecticut  Colony  in  1635-6  would  certainly  care  for  the  best 
interests  of  their  children,  and  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  by  the 
colonial  records  that  as  early  as  1637  there  was  established  in  Hart- 
ford a  town  school  that  has  had  an  unbroken  existence  to  the  present 
time,  appearing  now  in  the  Public  High  School.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  this  and  similar  ones  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay  and  New  Haven 
Colonies  were  good  schools.  They  were  evidently  modeled  as  nearly 
as  possible  after  the  Latin  and  Greek  grammar  schools  of  England, 
in  which  the  founders  of  these  colonies  had  been  educated,  and  after 
attending  which  many  of  them  had  become  distinguished  graduates  of 
the  English  universities. 

This  first  school  in  Hartford  was  supported  partly  by  the  town 
and  partly  by  the  tuition  fees  of  the  scholars.  Before  1650  there 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  legal  enactment  on  the  subject  of 
education,  but  in  that  year  the  Code  of  Laws  was  adopted  in  which 
it  was  decreed  that  "Inasmuch  as  the  good  education  of  children  is 
of  singular  behoof  and  benefit  to  any  commonwealth,  fhe  selectmen 
of  every  town  shall  have  a  vigilant  eye  on  their  brethren  and  neigh- 
bors to  see  that  none  of  them  shall  suffer  so  much  barbarism  in  any 


SCHOOLS.  173 

of  their  families  as  not  .to  teach  by  themselves  or  others  their  children 
and  apprentices  so  much  learning  as  may  enable  them  to  read  the 
English  tongue  and  the  capital  Jaws  of  this  Colony,  upon  the  penalty 
of  20  shillings  therein."  These  provisions  were  strictly  enforced,  and, 
if  necessary,  the  authorities  could  assume  the  care  of  neglected 
children.  Such  was  the  beginning  of  common  schools  supported  by 
a  general  tax. 

About  the  same  time  the  classical  school  received  successively 
four  gifts  of  money  or  land,  the  largest  and  last  being  the  legacy  of 
Governor  Edward  Hopkins,  from  whom  the  school  has  since  been 
named.  This  gift  coming  in  the  darkest  times  must  have  been  inex- 
pressibly grateful  to  the  struggling  colonies.  The  "  true  intent "  of 
this  bequest  was  to  give  encouragement  "  to  those  foreign  plantations 
for  the  breeding  up  of  hopeful  youths,  both  at  the  grammar  school 
and  college,  and  for  the  public  service  of  the  country  in  future  times." 
He  thus  "  made  New  England  his  heir,"  and  saved  the  little  candle 
of  classical  learning  to  throw  its  beams  to  future  generations. 

Industrial  training  was  provided  for  by  an  early  statute  which  re- 
quired parents  to  bring  their  children  up  to  some  honest  calling  in 
husbandry  or  trade,  profitable  to  themselves  and  the  commonwealth. 

Early  religious  instruction  was  a  large  element  in  education. 

Until  1 76 1  the  care  of  the  common  schools  was  in  the  hands  of 
the  magistrates  and  the  clergy,  and  the  children  of  the  two  churches 
attended  respectively  the  one  under  the  care  of  their  own  church 
officers.  But  in  that  year  the  people  of  the  two  societies  petitioned 
to  be  divided  into  two  districts  separated  by  the  Little  River  and 
called  the  North  and  South  Districts.  In  1798  the  North  District 
was  divided  into  the  First  North,  now  Centre,  and  the  Second  North, 
or  North  Middle,  and  in  1814  the  West  Middle  was  set  off;  these 
clumsy  names  now  carry  with  them  the  suggestion  of  the  old  North 
and  South  districts  of  the  little  town.  In  1833  the  Arsenal  district 
was  formed,  and  in  1835  tne  Gravel  Hill,  both  on  the  north:  later 
the  Washington,  the  South  East,  the  North  East,  and  the  North  West, 
making  ten  districts  in  all.  The  straggling  lines  of  these  divisions 
might  well  be  straightened  and  made  to  accommodate  the  changed 
distribution  of  homes. 

So  happily  had  the  laws  of  the  State  defended  its  people  from  the 


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(174) 


SCHOOLS.  175 

"  barbarism "  of  illiteracy  that  it  was  the  glory  of  Connecticut  till 
1795  that  a  native  of  the  State  could  rarely  be  found  who  could  not 
read  or  write.  In  the  matter  of  elementary  instruction  the  Land  of 
Steady  Habits  surpassed  the  other  States,  and  was,  as  President 
Noah    Porter  called  it,  "the  star  of  hope  and  guidance  of  the  world." 

But  a  snare  was  before  the  people  into  which  they  fell.  The  sale 
of  the  public  lands  of  the  "Western  Reserve  of  Ohio  gave  to  Con- 
necticut a  fund  of  Si, 2 00,000  which  was  set  aside  forever  for  the 
support  of  common  schools.  The  sale  was  made  in  1795,  and  in 
1820  the  present  rule  was  adopted  that  appropriates  the  interest  of 
this  fund  to  the  towns  according  to  the  number  of  children  from 
four  to  sixteen  years  of  age.  This  fund  was  increased  in  1836  by 
half  the  share  of  the  State  in  the  surplus  revenue  in  the  national 
treasury.  The  early  results  of  this  gain  were  disastrous  for  a  whole 
generation.  The  towns  forthwith  began  to  depend  upon  the  fund  for 
all  the  school  expenses,  or  eked  them  out  with  "  odious "  rate  bills. 
No  other  such  retrograde  movement  ever  occurred  in  this  country : 
the  terms  were  short,  the  teaching  often  poor,  the  pay  low,  and  the 
schools  unclassified.  The  interest  of  those  who  cared  for  good  instruc- 
tion turned  to  private  schools  and  academies,  and  the  common  schools 
were  regarded  with  apathy.  This  condition  was  not  changed  till 
1854,  when  the  State  returned  to  the  policy  which  had  been  followed 
for  more  than  150  years,  and  a  vast  improvement  has  been  developed 
since  that  time. 

Hartford,  however,  seems  never  to  have  suffered  from  the  indiffer- 
ence that  was  so  marked  in  smaller  places,  though  doubtless  the 
school  of  the  early  time  was  extremely  plain  and  limited  at  the  best. 
In  18 10  the  three  schools  of  the  First  North  or  Center  District  were 
united  with  a  view  to  their  improvement.  A  quaint  little  book  pub- 
lished in  1832,  called  "An  Historical  Description  of  the  Centre 
School,"  sets  that  forth  as  remarkably  well  managed  and  well 
cared  for  by  the  district,  which  was  then  largely  occupied  with  resi- 
dences. Later  the  old  stone  school-house  of  those  days  was  replaced 
by  a  much  better  brick  building.  In  1866-8  the  present  building 
was  erected  and  named  the  Brown  School,  after  Flavius  A.  Brown, 
who  was  for  thirty-seven  years  the  untiring  and  liberal-minded  chair- 
man of   the   district   committee.     A  large   part   of   this   district   is   now 


176 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


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BROWN    SCHOOL    BUILDING. 


occupied   by  business   firms,   and    the   disposition  of   the  tax-payers  is 
notably    liberal   and   prompt.     The    Brown    School    is    a   very   pleasant 

and    substantial  building;    it   is 


high,  but  is  supplied  with  four 
separate  staircases,  and  the 
rooms  are  all  attractive  and 
cheerful  and  abound  with  evi- 
dences of  the  thoughtfulness  of 
the  teachers  and  officers  for  the 
somewhat  polyglot  company  that 
gathers  there  as  to  a  home. 
For  thirty-three  years  Frederick  F.  Barrows  has  cared  for  this 
important  school  with  paternal  interest,  and.  none  in  town  has  pro- 
duced better  results.  A  library,  said  to  be  as  good  as  that  of  any 
grammar  school  in  New  England,  provided  for  the  older  pupils,  has 
of  late  years  largely  spoiled  the  taste  for  dime  novels.  Liberal  addi- 
tions are  yearly  made  to  the  teachers'  reference  library.  A  new  two- 
story  building  is  now  finishing  for  the  kindergarten  department.  The 
Pearl  Street  school  belongs  to  this  district. 

The  South  School  District  has  five  good  buildings,  —  the  Wads- 
worth  Street,  the  Charter  Oak  Avenue,  the  Lawrence  Street,  the 
Parkville,  and  the  Wethersfield  Avenue  schools,  in  all  accommodating 
about  2,300  pupils  and  fifty  teachers.  This  district,  like  the  Center, 
has  been  greatly  favored  with  able  and  faithful  servants  as  principals 
and  chairmen  of  the  committee.  From  about  1840,  when  ex-Gov- 
ernor Harrison  was  the  young  principal,  Samuel  Dodd  began  his 
careful  service  of  twenty  years  as  chairman.  He  was  followed  for 
over  twenty-five  years  by  Hugh  Harbison,  whose  peculiarly  able 
administration  began  when  the  needs  of  the  district  were  rapidly 
enlarging  and  required  a  broad  and  high  standard,  which  he  notably 
brought  to  the  work.  Chauncey  Harris  labored  here  as  principal  for 
thirty-four  years,  giving  an  example  of  conscientious  devotion  and 
transparent  goodness  that  deserve  an  honored  memory.  Joseph  A. 
Graves  has  been  principal  for  eight  years,  and  he,  with  his  able  corps 
of  teachers,  maintains  the  high  standard  of  the  school.  The  fine  new 
building  in  Wadsworth  street  was  erected  within  three  years. 

The  Second  North  or  North  school  has  been  marked  by  a  similar 


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I78  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

character  for  thoroughness  and  permanency  as  the  two  preceding. 
Augustus  Morse  was  principal  here  for  twenty-six  years,  and  C.  C. 
Kimball  chairman  for  fourteen.  The  school  is  now  under  the  guid- 
ance of  W.  F.  Gordy,  and  is  certainly  fully  keeping  up  its  record.  A 
new  building  is  expected  in  the  near  future. 

The  West  Middle  school  stands  in  one  of  the  pleasantest  parts 
of  the  town,  and  has  a  large  and  commodious  house,  still  new.  The 
changes  of  principals  have  been  more  frequent  here  than  in  the  dis- 
tricts mentioned  above,  but  in  spite  of  this  the  school  has  always 
stood  well,  and  never  better  than  now  under  the  charge  of  Esther  C. 
Perry. 

The  Arsenal,  the  youngest  of  the  large  schools,  has  been  under 
the  successful  principalship  of  Willis  I.  Twitchell  for  six  years ;  J. 
C.  Stockwell,  who  preceded  him,  was  in  his  place  for  nineteen  years, 
till  ill  health  caused  his  retirement. 

The  North  East,  the  Washington  and  the  Washington  Branch,  the 
North  West,  the  South  West,  and  the  Gravel  Hill,  are  respectively 
smaller  schools,  and  in  the  main  very  good. 

Three  evening  schools  are  held  during  the  winter  in  Asylum, 
Morgan,  and  Lawrence  streets ;  these  accommodate  an  average  attend- 
ance of  about  200  pupils  over  fourteen  years  of  age. 

The  schools  of  the  town  of  Hartford,  with  the  exception  of  the 
High  School,  are  carried  on  by  the  districts  in  which  they  are  situ- 
ated. The  disadvantage  of  this  method  is  the  likelihood  that  the 
smaller  ones  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town  may  not  be  supplied  as 
bountifully  or  cared  for  as  thoroughly  as  the  others.  The  great 
advantages,  on  the  other  hand,  lie  in  the  sense  of  local  responsibility 
felt  in  their  own  school  by  the  members  of  each  district ;  they  elect 
their  own  officers,  the  work  depends  on  their  own  public  spirit.  If  a 
new  school-house  is  to  be  built,  however  lively  the  fight  may  be 
about  it,  all  know  that  the  needs  of  their  own  children  demand  it, 
and  the  discussion  has  always  ended  in  producing  a  good  building. 
Such  schools  are  frequently  visited,  and  the  selection  of  teachers 
allows  of  a  valuable  diversity,  as  in  one  district  they  may  be  brought 
from  any  place  whatever  that  will  furnish  the  best  obtainable ;  in 
another,  graduates  from  the  High  School,  who  have  afterwards  gradu- 
ated   from    the    excellent    State    Normal    School,    may    be    taken  ;    in 


SCHOOLS.  179 

another,  they  may  be  selected  on  some  other  principle ;  the  results 
being  free  from  a  mechanical  and  monotonous  character.  Last  and 
best,  the  whole  matter  is  apart  from  political  influences.  The  people 
of  Hartford  are,  like  those  of  the  State  generally,  "  stable,  strongly 
and  wisely  conservative,  justly  proud  of  past  history,  and  historic- 
ally averse  to  innovations."  In  no  case  have  they  shown  wiser 
conservatism  than  in  resisting  the  pressure  to  renounce  this  district 
system  that  has  borne  such  good  fruit  for  so  long. 

The  year  1847  was  one  of  vital  importance  in  the  history  of  local 
education.  Up  to  that  time  the  classical  school  had  always  been 
confined  to  boys,  and  an  advanced  school  was  demanded  by  the 
needs  of  both  boys  and  girls.  The  time  was  ripe,  but  it  cost  a 
struggle  that  shook  the  whole  city  to  establish  the  High  School  "for 
all  the  male  and  female  children  of  suitable  age  who  might  wish  to 
avail  themselves  of  it."  The  course  of  this  institution  has  been  one 
of  the  brightest  parts  of  the  history  of  the  city.  Its  existence  has 
been  nearly  covered  by  the  terms  of  three  principals,  —  T.  W.  T. 
Curtis  for  ten,  Samuel  M.  Capron  for  nine,  Joseph  Hall  for  fifteen 
years,  —  evidence  of  the  stability  and  excellence  of  its  management. 
The  Hartford  or  Hopkins  Grammar  School,  the  original  town  school, 
had  been  placed  by  the  town  in  the  hands  of  trustees,  who  at  the 
opening  of  the  High  School  practically  incorporated  that  with  the 
new  one,  thus  making  a  clear  historical  continuance  of  a  town  school 
from   1637,  a  period  of  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

The  pride  and  affection  felt  f>or  the  High  School  by  its  members, 
past  and  present,  and  the  confidence  of  the  city,  appear  in  countless 
ways,  notably  in  the  liberality  that  supplied  the  place  of  the  school- 
house  burned  in  1882  with  the  noble  fire-proof  building,  fully  provided 
with  all  suitable  helps  to  learning, —  library,  observatory,  drawing-room, 
working  and  lecture  laboratory,  type-writing,  stenography,  etc.,  etc. 
The  high  stand  which  its  graduates  take  at  college  and  in  the  com- 
munity amply  justifies  all  that  has  been  spent  on  it.  The  existence 
of  the  High  School  immediately  gave  unity  to  the  districts  of  the 
town,  being  a  goal  for  all  scholars,  and  raised  the  interest  and  grade 
of  work  in  all  their  schools. 

Each  district  elects  its  own  committee  and  pays  its  own  taxes; 
the  High  School  Committee   are   elected  by  the  town.      General   inter- 


i8o 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


ests,  such  as  inspection,  selection  of  text-books,  vacations,  etc.,  are  in 
the  hands  of  a  non-partisan  Board  of  Visitors,  nine  in  number. 

The  spirit  and  methods  of  the  common  schools  in  Hartford  have 
been  those  of  thoroughness  and  faithfulness.  While  it  is  evident  that 
various  matters  are  subject  to  improvement,  the  schools  receive  the 
hearty  respect  of  the  citizens;  many  families  have  come  here  to  enjoy 
the  advantages  they  afford,  and  they  have  had  a  powerful  influence 
in  raising  the  tone  and  giving  models  to  other  towns  near  and  far. 


MISS    HAINES'    SCHOOL. 

Private  schools  began  here  with  this  century,  and  were  mainly  for 
the  benefit  of  the  girls,  who  had  before  been  provided  for  only  by 
the  dame  and  district  schools,  assisted  by  the  reading  of  good  books 
and  home  influences.  In  1800,  Mrs.  Lydia  Bull  Royse  began  a  pri- 
vate school;  Lydia  Huntley,  afterwards  Mrs.  Sigourney,  opened  hers 
in    1815;    Catherine    E.    and    Mary    Beecher    opened    theirs    in    1823, 


SCHOOLS. 


181 


which,  in  1837,  was  incorporated  as  the  Hartford  Female  Seminary, 
and  was  not  inferior  to  any  in  the  country  for  a  long  time;  it  is  now 
under  the  care  of  Miss  M.  Louise  Bacon.  In  1827,  Mrs.  Kinneer 
started  a  school,  which  was  later  long  carried  on  by  the  Misses 
Draper.  The  Rev.  Isaac  Bird  had  a  school  for  boys  at  the  Pavilion. 
In  1861,  Mr.  T.  W.  T.  Curtis  had  a  boarding-school  for  young  ladies 
for  some  years.  In  1873,  the  Seminary  of  Mt.  St.  Joseph  began  as  a 
boarding-school  on  Farmington  avenue,  and  is  a  large  and  well- 
equipped  institution.  In  1876,  Miss  Elizabeth  H.  Haines  opened  a 
day  and  boarding-school,  which  is  now  delightfully  situated  on  a  west- 
ern slope  of  the  town.  In  1885,  the  Bowen  School  for  boys,  now 
conducted  by  Messrs.  C.  C.  Stearns  and  L.  F.  Reed,  began  in  Collins 
street,  and  about  the  same  time  Mr.  G.  W.  Steele  opened  his  in 
YVethersfield  avenue.  All  these  are  finely  situated  and  have  an  ex- 
cellent reputation.  Beside  these  there  are  several  parish  schools  and 
many  schools  for  young  children,  and  private  instruction  is  abundant. 


STATUE   OF    BISHOP    BROWNELL. 
[On  the  Campus  of  Trinity  College.] 


1 82  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

TRINITY    COLLEGE. 

The  charter  for  a  second  college  in  Connecticut,  under  the  name 
of  Washington  College,  was  granted  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1823; 
and  the  trustees  were  empowered  to  locate  the  institution  in  such 
town  in  the  State  as  they  should  judge  most  expedient.  Very  liberal 
contributions  to  the  funds  of  the  new  college,  amounting  to  over 
three-fourths  of  its  original  endowment  of  $50,000,  were  made  by  the 
people  of  Hartford,  and  this  city  was  chosen  as  the  permanent  home 
of  an  important  seat  of  liberal  study.  A  site  of  fourteen  acres  on  a 
slight  elevation,  then  described  as  about  half  a  mile  from  the  city, 
was  purchased,  and  the  erection  of  two  sightly  halls  of  brown  stone 
was  begun  in  June.  1824.  These  buildings,  with  a  third  which  was 
erected  in  1845,  formed  a  line  running  north  and  south  on  the  ridge 
of  what  are  now  the  Capitol  grounds.  The  campus  was  planted  with 
trees,  and  advantage  was  taken  of  the  natural  capacities  of  the  site 
to  make  it  very  beautiful  and  attractive.  In  course  of  time  Bushnell 
Park  was  laid  out  to  the  north  and  east,  so  that  the  attractiveness 
of  the  spot  was  much  enhanced,  and  the  college  seemed  to  be 
brought  nearer  to  the  city. 

With  a  well-furnished  library,  a  useful  cabinet  for  work  and  illus- 
tration, a  learned  faculty,  and  a  gentlemanly  body  of  undergraduates, 
the  college  has  been  for  all  these  years  a  source  of  pride  to  the 
city,  and  has  furnished  important  factors  to  its  intellectual  and  social 
life.  At  various  times  it  has  received  gifts  from  liberal  citizens  of 
Hartford;  the  largest,  before  the  removal  to  its  present  site,  was  the 
legacy  of  Chester  Adams,  in  187 1,  who  made  the  college  a  residuary 
legatee,  thus  increasing  its  endowments  by  about  $68,000.  Some 
years  before,  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  add  $100,000  to  the 
funds  of  the  college,  there  were  eighteen  subscriptions  of  $1,000  or 
more  in  Hartford.  In  1845,  t'ie  name  of  the  institution  had  been 
changed  to  Trinity  College. 

In  1872,  the  city  having  become  the  sole  capital  of  the  State,  the 
trustees  were  persuaded  to  sell  the  site  of  the  college,  with  the  entire 
campus,  to  the  city  for  the  sum  of  $600,000,  that  it  might  be  offered 
as  the  most  suitable  location  for  the  state  house;  and  a  new  site  was 
chosen   for  the    college    on    the   trap-ridge  which  lies  to  the    south   of 


TRINITY    COLLI  GE. 


i8- 


Vernon  street  and  the  west  of  Broad  street.  On  this  commanding 
site,  with  a  magnificent  view  of  two  valleys,  bounded  on  the  one  side 
by  the  Bolton  Hills  and  on  the  other  by  the  Talcott  Mountain  range, 
about  eighty  acres  of  land  were  purchased ;  and  President  Jackson 
called  the  skill  of  a  famous  English  architect  to  prepare  plans  for  an 
unequaled   pile  of  academic  buildings.     He  believed  that  a  well-estab- 


TRINITY   COLLEGE   WHEN    COMPLETED. 

lished  college,  having  sufficient  funds  to  provide  for  its  present  needs 
and  the  hope  of  great  growth  in  the  future,  and  about  to  transfer  its 
work  to  a  new  place,  should  have  plans  for  all  the  buildings  which 
it  was  likely  to  require  in  the  course  of  many  years.  He  therefore 
caused  designs  to  be  made  on  a  very  large  scale,  more  extensive  and 
more  elaborate  than  have  ever  been  made  for  any  similar  purpose. 
They  include,  as  finally  arranged,  a  large  central  quadrangle,  600  by 
300  feet,  with  a  smaller  quadrangle,  300  feet  square,  at  either  end,  all 
in  what  is  called  the  early  secular  French  Gothic  style  of  architec- 
ture. The  accomplishment  of  the  whole  plan  must  be  left  for  future 
generations ;    at  present  the  west  side  of  the  great  quadrangle  is  com- 


184 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


pleted,  containing  rooms  for  the  junior  professors  and  for  about  125 
students,  an  ample  number  of  lecture  rooms,  a  fine  museum  or  cabi- 
net, a  handsome  little  chapel,  and  temporary  provision  for  the  library. 
The  excellent  arrangement  of  the  buildings  is  largely  due  to  the 
careful  and  pains-taking  labors  of   President    Pynchon,  who   succeeded 


TRINITY    COLLEGE    BUILDING. 


Dr.  Jackson  before  the  work  at  the  new  site  had  been  begun.  The 
central  part  of  the  present  buildings  bears  the  name  of  Northam 
Towers,  being  the  gift  of  Charles  H.  Northam,  who  also,  at  his  death 
in  1882,  made  liberal  additions  to  the  general  funds  and  to  the 
library  funds,  and  endowed  a  new  professorship.  Legacies  from  his 
wife  two  years  later  increased  the  Northam  benefactions  to  about 
$225,000.  A  fine  and  well-furnished  gymnasium  stands  outside  of  the 
space  assigned  to  the  quadrangles  on  the  north  campus,  in  large  part 
the  gift  of  one  whom  we  still  claim  as  a  Hartford  man,  Junius  S. 
Morgan,   of    London;    and    last    year    the    Jarvis    Hall    of    Science    was 


TRINITY    COLLEGE.  185 

completed,  which  occupies  the  corresponding  situation  on  the  south 
campus.  This  latter  building,  which  contains  the  chemical  and  physi- 
cal lecture-rooms  and  laboratories,  is  unequaled  in  the  excellence 
and  completeness  of  its  arrangements,  and  affords  excellent  facilities 
for  the  practical  work  of  the  recently  organized  courses  in  science. 
Besides  the  buildings  mentioned,  there  is  a  modest  observatory  on 
the  south  campus;  and  the  residences  of  the  president  and  one  of 
the  professors  stand  on  Vernon  street.  The  campus,  on  which  much 
labor  has  already  been  bestowed,  is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  attractive  parts  of  the  city.  Three  of  the  students'  so- 
cieties have  handsome  chapter-halls,  two  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
college  and  one  on  Washington  street. 

Two  of  the  prizes  offered  to  undergraduates  each  year  are  on 
foundations  established  by  residents  of  Hartford :  the  Tuttle  Prize, 
founded  in  1859  by  the  legacy  of  Miles  A.  Tuttle,  and  the  Goodwin 
Greek  Prize,  founded  in  1884  by  Mrs.  James  Goodwin;  and  the  col- 
lege is  also  indebted  for  several  scholarships  to  the  bounty  of  our 
citizens,  the  most  liberal  donation  for  this  purpose  having  come  from 
the  Hon.  Isaac  Toucey.  It  should  be  added  that  the  last  large  gift 
to  the  college,  a  legacy  of  $50,000,  was  from  a  native  of  this  city, 
Stephen  M.  Buckingham,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Trinity  College  offers  the  opportunity  for  instruction  in  the  arts, 
the  course  following  the  general  lines  of  the  ancient  curriculum,  but 
with  wise  and  ample  adaptation  to  the  needs  of  the  day  and  the  re- 
quirements made  upon  modern  scholarship;  a  large  part  of  the  course 
is  prescribed,  but  there  is  a  considerable  range  of  elective  studies. 
There  are  also  a  course  in  science  and  a  course  in  letters  and  science, 
in  both  of  which  special  attention  is  paid  to  advanced  work  in  phys- 
ics and  chemistry  and  to  the  mathematics  and  the  modern  languages, 
and  in  the  latter  of  which  a  certain  amount  of  Latin  is  retained. 

The  advantages  offered  by  the  college  under  the  administration  of 
the  present  President,  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  Williamson  Smith,  have 
been  continually  increasing,  and  the  number  of  names  on  the  roll  of 
students  is  larger  than  at  any  previous  time.  The  library  now  con- 
tains some  30,000  volumes,  one-third  of  which  have  been  acquired 
during  the  last  six  years ;  and  before  long  it  will  be  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  erect,  on  the  south  side  of  the  great  quadrangle,  a  large  and 
fine  library  building. 


HARTFORD    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY.  l8? 

The  number  of  graduates  of  the  college  is  over  900,  of  whom 
about  650  survive,  and  a  large  part  of  whom  occupy  prominent  and 
influential  positions  in  the  church  and  in  the  State,  in  colleges  and 
universities,  in  the  courts,  at  the  bar,  and  in  the  practice  of  medicine, 
as  well  as  in  active  business  pursuits.  So  her  officers  and  students 
within  the  walls,  and  her  alumni  in  the  duties  of  life,  are  carrying 
out  the  teaching  of  her  motto,  "Pro  Ecclesia  et  Patria." 

HARTFORD    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 

The  Hartford  Theological  Seminary  (Congregationalist)  is  now  in 
its  fifty-fifth  year.  When  first  organized,  in  1834,  it  was  located  at 
East  Windsor  Hill;  but  in  1865  it  was  removed  to  this  city,  occupy- 
ing for  some  years  three  buildings  on  Prospect  street.  In  1879,  tne 
fine  edifice  on  Broad  street  was  completed  through  the  munificence 
of  the  late  James  B.  Hosmer,  and  called  in  his  memory  "  Hosmer 
Hall."  This  building,  which  is  located  in  the  highest  part  of  the 
city,  is  simple  in  design,  and  is  substantially  and  practically  construc- 
ted of  brick  with  brown-stone  trimmings,  with  particular  attention  to 
sunlight,  fresh  air,  good  drainage,  etc.  It  consists  of  a  main  building, 
four  stories  high,  with  two  large  wings  of  the  same  height,  and  with 
semi-detached  library  and  music  buildings ;  while  in  the  rear  is  a 
large  gymnasium  fully  equipped  with  the  best  modern  apparatus. 
The  buildings  contain  a  chapel,  six  ample  lecture-rooms,  library,  read- 
ing-room, reception-room,  public  office,  between  fifty  and  sixty  suites 
of  students'  rooms  (study  and'  bed-room  for  each  student),  bath- 
rooms, dining-room,  kitchen,  and  laundry.  It  is  heated  by  steam  and 
lighted  with  gas.  Among  the  appliances  of  the  institution  the  most 
important  is  the  excellent  library  of  about  43,000  volumes  and  15,000 
pamphlets,  including  several  special  collections  of  great  value,  together 
with  an  abundant  supply  of  current  newspapers  and  reviews.  The 
library  owes  its  size  and  exceptional  equipment  mostly  to  the 
liberality  of  Newton  Case. 

The  current  catalogue  of  the  Seminary  shows  that  the  faculty 
comprises  five  full  professors,  three  associate  professors,  two  instructors, 
and  two  non-resident  lecturers.  The  president  is  the  Rev.  Chester  D. 
Hartranft,  D.D.  The  number  of  students  this  year  is  43,  with  4 
more  absent  on  leave.     Their  geographical  distribution   is    as   follows  : 


1 88  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

14  from  Massachusetts,  6  from  Connecticut,  3  each  from  New  York 
and  Vermont,  2  each  from  Georgia,  California,  Turkey,  Bulgaria,  and 
1  each  from  Maine,  Rhode  Island,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  Scotland.  Eighteen  colleges  are  represented:  Williams  11, 
Amherst  8,  Harvard  5,  Middlebury  and  University  of  Vermont  each 
3,  Bowdoin,  Dartmouth,  and  Drury  each  2,  Boston  University,  Brown, 
Hamilton,  Atlanta  University,  Gammon,  Olivet,  Wake  Forest,  Wash- 
burn, Laval,  and  Marsovan  each  1.  The  prosperity  of  the  institution  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  Junior  Class  is  as  large  as  the  other 
two  together.  One  student  is  pursuing  an  advanced  course  at  Berlin. 
In  addition  to  the  advantages  for  its  students,  the  Seminary  offers 
to  the  citizens  of  Hartford  the  free  use  of  its  library  and  reading- 
room,  an  annual  course  of  from  four  to  six  lectures  on  the  Carew 
Foundation  (lecturer  for  the  current  year,  President  Francis  L.  Patton, 
of  Princeton  College),  an  annual  course  of  from  three  to  five  lectures 
by  members  of  its  faculty,  with  numerous  less  formal  addresses  and 
gatherings.  It  also  grants  without  charge  to  the  Hosmer  Hall 
Choral  Union  the  services  of  its  conductor,  and  the  hall  and  other 
appliances  for  its  rehearsals.  Its  students  are  widely  connected  with 
the  various  churches  of  the  city,  and  have  rendered  important  service 
in  connection  with  all  city  mission  enterprises. 

THE  HOSMER  HALL  CHORAL  UNION. 

The  Hosmer  Hall  Choral  Union  is  an  oratorio  society  organized 
in  1880  under  the  auspices  of  the  .Theological  Seminary.  Its  first 
conductor  was  Rev.  William  W.  Sleeper,  who  was  succeeded,  in  1882, 
by  Professor  Waldo  S.  Pratt.  Its  membership  has  ranged  of  recent 
years  from  175  to  225,  and  during  its  history  over  1000  different 
persons  have  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  its  drill  and  education.  It 
usually  gives  three  public  concerts  each  season,  with  competent  soloists 
and  orchestra.  Among  the  larger  works  successfully  rendered  by  it 
are  Handel's  "  Messiah,"  "  Samson,"  "  Jubilate,"  Haydn's  "  Creation," 
and  "  Imperial  Mass,"  Bach's  "  Christmas  Oratorio,"  Mendelssohn's 
';  Elijah,"  "  Hymn  of  Praise,"  and  forty-second  and  ninety-fifth 
Psalms,  and  it  is  now  studying  Gounod's  "  Mors  et  Vita."  The  re- 
hearsals are  held  every  Monday  evening  during  the  winter  at  Hosmer 
Hall.  The  conditions  of  membership  are  a  correct  ear,  fair  voice, 
and  moderate  ability  to  read  music  at  sight. 


THE    COURANT    BUILDING. 


(t89) 


« 
I9O  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


THE     PRESS. 

The  Courant,  established  in  1764,  has  long  been  the  oldest 
newspaper  in  the  country,  and  from  its  files  the  materials  for  a  great 
deal  of  written  history  have  been  drawn.  In  its  columns  were  dis- 
cussed by  the  ablest  writers  of  the  colony  the  grievances  which  led 
to  the  Revolution,  and  after  the  acknowledgment  of  our  independ- 
ence, the  troubles  and  perils  from  which  escape  was  sought  in  the 
formation  of  the  federal  union.  During  its  long  career  it  has 
absorbed  many  weaker  papers,  and  has  seemingly  fattened  on  the 
food.  In  the  latest  instance,  the  Press,  while  surrendering  the  name 
in  1867,  took  possession  of  the  editorial  rooms.  A  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury ago  the  "  live  matter "  was  confined  to  three-fifths  of  the  second 
page  and  to  a  column  and  a  half  of  dispatches  on  the  third  page. 
Now,  considerably  over  one-half  of  a  quarto  of  forty-eight  columns 
is  devoted  to  news,  literature,  correspondence,  and  the  discussion  of 
current  events.  Then,  one  young  man  wrote  the  editorials  and  han- 
dled the  night  dispatches,  while  another  gathered  and  prepared  the 
city  items,  with  some  aid  from  the  present  business  manager,  who 
was  superintendent  of  the  mechanical  department.  Now,  in  addition 
to  a  corps  of  paid  correspondents,  ten  or  twelve  writers  find  abundant 
occupation  in  supplying  the  demand,  repeated  with  inexorable  regu- 
larity six  days  in  the  week,  for  fresh  and  interesting  matter.  The 
Courant  is  the  only  morning  newspaper  in  Connecticut  which  is  a 
member  of  the  Associated  Press,  and  during  its  career  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  years  its  name  has  become  known  throughout 
the  entire  country,  and  its  position  of  leadership  among  Republican 
journals  is  everywhere  recognized.  The  proprietors  are  Gen.  Joseph  R. 
Hawley,  Charles  Dudley  Warner,  S.  A.  Hubbard,  William  H.  Good- 
rich, and  Charles  H.  Clark.  In  1880  the  firm  erected  the  Courant 
building  on  State  street. 

The  Hartford  Times  was  established  in  18 17  to  battle  for  tolera- 
tion. At  that  period  the  outlook  of  the  liberal  cause  in  Connecticut 
was  dark  and  the  prospect  of  success  unpromising.  Strong  before, 
the  Federal  party  had  been  still  further  solidified  by  the  unpopularity 
in  New  England  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  its  arrogance 
was  extremely  odious  to  the  minority.     It  commanded  the  vote  of  the 


THE    PRESS. 


IQI 


established  or  Congregational  church,  which  was  supported  by  direct 
taxation  of  the  people.  Yet,  through  the  efforts  of  the  reformers,  led 
by  the  Times,  in  one  short  campaign  the  party  which  considered  itself 
invincible  was  ignominiously  beaten,  and  the  new  constitution  of  18 18, 
with  its  guaranties  of  religious  liberty,  secured. 

Pecuniarily  the  paper  did  not  prosper  till  the  advent  of  A.  E.  Burr, 
who  purchased  one-half  of  it  in  January,  1839,  and  the  other  half  two 
years  later.  He  started  the  daily  in  1841.  For  half  a  century  the 
Times  has  been  conducted  by  him  either  alone  or  in  association  with 
other  members  of  the  family,  and  during  the  period  has  steadily 
grown  in  value  and  influence.  For  many  years  it  has  been  one  of 
the  leading  Democratic  journals  of  the  country. 

The  Post,  started  in  1858,  led  a  somewhat  languid  existence  till 
purchased  in  1867  by  Marshall  Jewell,  H.  T.  Sperry,  and  Ezra  Hall, 
when  it  became  a  decided  power  in  local  and  State  affairs.  In  poli- 
tics it  is  aggressively  Republican.  It  was  published  mornings  till 
1868,  when  changed  to  an  evening  issue,  having  secured  the  subscrip- 
tion list  and  good-will  of  the  Press,  which  had  been  printed  under 
the  old  name  as  an  evening  edition  of  the  Courant  after  the  purchase 
of  the  latter  by  Hawley,  Goodrich  &:  Co.  in  1867.  The  Post  is  a 
quarto  in  form,   and  has  a  strong  editorial  corps. 

The  Christian  Secretary,  published  weekly  by  Rev.  Charles  A. 
Picklock,  has  been  the  organ  of  the  Connecticut   Baptists  since   1822. 

The  Religious  Herald,  founded  in  1843  by  D.  B.  Mosely  and 
continued  by  his  sons,  represents  the  views  of  the  Congregationalists. 

The  Connecticut  Catholic,  published  weekly  by  M.  F.  Scanlan, 
has  a  large  constitutency. 

There  are  two  Sunday  papers  in  Hartford,  —  the  Journal,  edited 
and  published  by  Joseph  H.  Barnum ;  and  the  Globe,  by  Allen 
Willey. 

The  Daily  Record-Telegram  was  formed  in  January,  1889,  by 
the  union  of  the   Telegram  and  Record. 

The  Hartforder  Herald  is  issued  every  Saturday  in  German. 

Besides  these  are  several  publications  devoted  to  special  interests, 
the  name  generally  indicating  the  purpose,  as  the  "  American  Journal 
of  Education,"  the  "  Weekly  Underwriter,"  the  "  Poultry  World," 
the  "Insurance  Journal,"  the  "Examiner,"  and  still  others  issued  at 
regular  intervals  by  several  of  the  insurance  companies. 


AMERICAN    ASYLUM  I93 

AMERICAN     ASYLUM. 

The  American  Asylum  for  the  education  and  instruction  of  the 
deaf  and  dumb  was  incorporated  in  18 16.  It  was  adequately  endowed, 
in  1819  by  the  National  Congress  on  the  erroneous  impression  that 
no  other  school  would  be  required  for  the  nation,  and  consequently 
it  was  named  the  American   Asylum. 

Through  the  prolonged  investigations  and  active  efforts  of  Dr. 
Mason  F.  Cogswell  of  Hartford,  in  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  his 
deaf  daughter  Alice,  a  voluntary  association  of  gentlemen,  one  of 
whom  was  the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Gallaudet,  was  formed  in  this  city 
in  18 1 5  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  school  for  the  instruction 
of  deaf-mutes  in  America.  This  association  through  a  committee 
raised  the  necessary  funds  to  send  a  man  to  Europe  to  acquire  the 
art  of  instructing  the  deaf,  and  subsequently  induced  the  Rev. 
Thomas  H.  Gallaudet  to  undertake  the  task.  Returning  to  America 
in  18 16  with  Laurent  Clerc,  a  graduate  of  the  Royal  Institution  for 
the  Deaf  and  Dumb  in  Paris  and  afterwards  a  teacher  in  it.  Mr. 
Gallaudet  opened  the  school  at  Hartford,  with  Mr.  Clerc  as  his 
assistant.  Together  they  worked  out  a  modified  system  of  instruc- 
tion which  has  spread  all  over  this  country.  From  this  parent  insti- 
tution have  sprung  seventy  others  in  various  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  American  Asylum  always  has  been  and  is  now  an 
authority  and  a  model  in  matters  connected  with  the  instruction  of 
the  deaf. 

The  school  building  is  situated  on  one  of  the  highest  spots  in 
the  city,  surrounded  by  eleven  acres  of  open  ground,  with  a  fine 
lawn  and  ample  play-grounds  for  the  pupils,  —  a  beautiful  and  health- 
ful location,  practically  an  open  park  in  the  midst  of  the  city. 

The  management  of  the  school  has  been  characterized  by  a  wise 
conservatism  and  a  genuinely  progressive  spirit.  Its  aim  is  to  impart 
the  power  to  use  language,  both  written  and  oral,  to  well  ground  the 
pupils  in  arithmetic,  American  and  English  history  and  current  events, 
in  political,  commercial,  and  physical  geography,  in  the  elements  of 
physiology  and  hygiene,  in  elementary  drawing,  and  in  the  duties  of 
morality  and  the  truths  of  religion.  Speech  and  lip-reading  are  sys- 
tematically and  thoroughly  taught  as  a  part  of  the  regular  school 
course. 


194  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

Fifteen  teachers  are  employed  in  the  school,  four  of  them  being 
teachers  of  articulation.  All  pupils  over  twelve  years  of  age  receive 
manual  training  three  hours  a  day. 

More  than  2,400  pupils  have  received  instruction  in  this  school, 
and  its  graduates  may  be  found  in  almost  every  State  of  the  Union, 
intelligent,  respected,  law-abiding  citizens,  well  sustaining  themselves 
and  their  families.  Among  them  may  be  found  farmers,  mechanics, 
merchants,  printers,  and  even  professional  men. 

The  school  draws  its  pupils  from  all  parts  of  New  England,  and 
is  supported  partly  by  State  appropriations  and  partly  by  the  income 
of  its  own  fund.  Practically  it  is  a  free  school  for  the  deaf,  and  it 
is  absolutely  so  for  the  destitute.  The  amount  expended  by  the 
school  in  the  city  annually  is  over  $50,000.  Francis  B.  Cooley, 
president ;  Atwood  Collins,  secretary ;  Daniel  R.  Howe,  treasurer ; 
Job   Williams,   principal. 


THE  RETREAT  FOR  THE  INSANE. 

This  institution  is  the  third  in  age  of  those  which  have  been 
established  for  the  exclusive  care  and  treatment  of  the  insane  in  the 
United  States.  It  may  be  regarded  as  the  offspring  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Medical  Society,  as  action  towards  its  establishment  was  begun 
and  carried  forward  to  success  by  this  society;  at  the  same  time  it 
belongs  to  Hartford  in  an  especial  degree,  as  its  citizens  contributed 
more  than  one-fourth  of  the  necessary  funds  for  its  establishment, 
and  more  than  any  other  town  or  city  in  the  State.  One  of  Hart- 
ford's most  eminent  physicians  was  appointed  as  its  first  Superintend- 
ent, and  succeeded  in  establishing  for  it,  both  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe,   a  high  reputation,  which  it  has  never  lost. 

The  buildings  are  located  upon  high  ground,  with  a  splendid  out- 
look over  the  Connecticut  River  to  the  east,  and  less  than  one  mile 
directly  south  from  the  State  House.  The  grounds  comprise  about 
twenty-five  acres,  which  are  laid  out  as  an  English  lawn-park,  and 
contain  some  of  the  finest  specimens  of  tree-grouping  in  the  country. 
These  grounds  are  for  the  special  use  and  enjoyment  of  the  patients, 
but  may  be   enjoyed   upon   any  day  by  the   public   from   the   delightful 


I96  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

drive-way  which  skirts  their  borders.  The  buildings  consist  of  a  cen- 
ter, for  executive  purposes,  and  two  wings,  one  for  each  sex.  Each 
wing  has  six  separate  halls,  so  that  the  seventy  patients  occupying  it 
may  be  classified  according  to  their  mental  condition.  These  halls 
and  the  rooms  adjoining  them  are  fitted  up  in  as  homelike  and  in  as 
comfortable  a  manner  as  it  is  possible  to  make  them.  It  is  thought 
by  those  in  charge  that  the  reflex  influences  arising  from  pleasant 
surroundings  upon  disordered  minds  prove  highly  conducive  towards 
restoration  to  health.  There  have  also  been  erected  two  cottages 
upon  the  grounds  for  the  benefit  of  those  patients  whose  friends 
desire  or  prefer  for  any  reason  more  spacious  accommodations  and 
such  as  can  be  visited  without  going  into  a  public  institution.  These 
are  situated  upon  the  southern  border  of  the  grounds,  and  the  view 
constantly  present  from  the  rooms,  and  the  piazzas  connected  with 
each  suite  of  rooms,  can  be  equaled  by  few  homes  in  the  country. 
The  number  of  patients  is  limited,  but  it  would  be  safe  to  say  that 
no  institution  in  the  country  of  its  kind  provides  more  delightful  halls 
and  rooms.  The  visitor  may  pass  through  the  larger  portions  of  the 
buildings  without  hearing  the  slightest  disturbance,  and  we  under- 
stand that  mechanical  restraint  has  been  used  in  a  few  cases  only 
since  1877,  and  then  only  for  short  periods  and  for  special  reasons. 
The  Retreat  is  governed  by  a  board  of  directors,  who  serve  without 
compensation,  and  is  officered  by  a  superintendent  physician  and  two 
assistant  physicians,  with  a  steward  and  matron.  There  have  been 
nearly  7,000  patients  admitted  since  April  1,  1824 ;  and  more  than 
3,000  have  been  discharged  as  recovered.  All  information  as  to  the 
reception  of  patients  can  be  obtained  by  writing  to  or  visiting  any 
one  of  the  managers,  —  Hon.  William  R.  Cone,  Dr.  Gurdon  W.  Rus- 
sell,  and   Rodney   Dennis,   or  the   superintendent,    Dr.    H.   P.    Stearns. 


198 


THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 


CHURCHES. 

From  the  days  of  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  Hartford  has  been  noted 
for  pulpit  talent.  The  first  church,  organized  as  early  as  1633,  at 
Newtown  (Cambridge),  Mass.,  was  transplanted  in  1636,  and  became  a 
power  in  the  civil  as  well  as  religious  affairs  of  the  infant  common- 
wealth. The  following  list  gives  the  name,  denomination,  date  of 
organization,  and  location  of  the  churches  of  the  city.  All  the  lead- 
ing shades  of  theological  opinion  are  represented,  and  in  whatever 
quarter  a  resident  may  locate,  he  need  not  travel  far  on  Sundays  to 
meet  with  sympathetic  worshipers. 


First 

Second 

Fourth 

Pearl  Street 

Wethersfield  Avenue 

Park 

Asylum  Hill 

Windsor  Avenue 

Pavilion 

Talcott  Street 

Christ  Church, 

St.  John's, 

St.  James, 

Trinity, 

Good  Shepherd, 

St.   Thomas, 

Grace  Chapel, 

African 

First 

North 

South  Park 

Beth  Israel, 

First 

South 

Windsor  Avenue 

Union 

Memorial 

Asylum  Avenue 

German  Lutheran, 

Catholic  Apostolic, 

YYarburton  Chapel, 

First  Presbyterian, 

Unity, 

Second  Advent, 

Univejrsalist, 

St.  Joseph's  Cathedral, 

St.   Patrick's  Church, 

St.  Peter's  Church, 

St.   Lawrence  O' Toole, 


Congregational,  organized  1633, 
1670, 
1832, 

1852, 
1873, 
1824, 
1864, 
1870, 
1870. 

1833, 

Episcopal,  1762, 

1 841, 

1868, 

1859, 
1866, 
1870, 


Methodist, 


Baptist, 


1836, 
1820, 
1871, 
1869, 
1850, 
1789, 
1834, 
1871, 
1878, 
1884, 
1870, 
1880, 
1868, 
1866, 

1851, 

1844, 

1859, 
1827, 
1877, 
1823, 
1859, 
1876, 


227  Main. 

91   Main. 

509  Main. 

40  Pearl. 

154  Wethersfield  Ave. 

290  Asvlum. 

814 

900  Main. 

30  Talcott. 

413  Main. 

178      " 

Park. 

128  Sigourney. 

Wyllvs  Ave. 

871  Main. 

Parkville. 

269  Pearl. 

305  Asylum. 

903  Main. 

21         " 

Charter  Oak  Ave. 

450  Main. 

125      " 

Suffield. 

35  Wooster. 

Jefferson. 

866  Asylum. 

125  Market. 

20  Spring. 

61  Temple. 

136  Capitol. 

26  Pratt. 

Summer  St. 

234  Main. 

150  Farmington  Ave. 

83  Church. 

44  Main. 

Laurel. 


Trinity  College  and  the  Retreat  for  the  Insane  each  has  a   chapel 
of  its  own,  as  have  the  Cedar  Hill  and  Spring  Grove  cemeteries. 


ASYLUM    HILL    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 


(J99) 


ST.   JOSEPH  S    CATHEDRAL. 


(aoo) 


HARTFORD    HOSPITAL.  201 

HARTFORD     HOSPITAL. 

Incorporated  in  1854,  and  organized  by  the  choice  of  directors  in 
1855.  the  Hartford  Hospital  dedicated  in  April,  1859,  the  central  build- 
ing and  north  wing  of  the  present  structure,  with  accommodations  for 
forty-four  patients,  the  work  having  been  completed  in  time  to  be  of 
great  service  during  the  war,  in  providing  treatment  for  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  Ten  years  later  the  south  and  two  east  wings 
were  built,  and  since  then  other  important  departments  have  from 
time  to  time  been  added,  at  a  total  cost  on  land  and  construction 
account  of  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  dollars,  all  contributed  by  indi- 
viduals except  $50,000  given  by  the  State.  The  institution  has  received 
many  liberal  donations  and  bequests,  which  have  been  set  aside  as  a 
permanent  fund.  During  the  past  year  855  patients  were  treated  at 
an  expense  of  $39,546.15,  of  which  $27,659.11  were  contributed  by 
the  State,  by  towns,  and  by  individual  beneficiaries,  leaving  a  balance 
of  $14,914.62,  chargeable  to  the  income  from  investments  and  to  gifts. 
The  wards  contain  164  beds.  Connected  with  the  hospital  is  a  suc- 
cessful training  school  for  nurses. 

Gurdon  W.  Russell,  M.  D.,  president ;  J.  B.  Bunce,  vice-president ; 
Ward  W.  Jacobs,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

OLD    PEOPLE'S     HOME. 

As  an  appendage  to  the  hospital  the  Old  People's  Home  was 
opened  for  the  reception  of  inmates  December  1,  1884.  Its  primary 
aim  is  to  provide  under  certain  restrictions  permanent  and  comfortable 
quarters  for  the  aged  of  both  sexes,  who  have  through  misfortunes 
lapsed  from  better  circumstances  into  a  condition  of  partial  depend- 
ence, or  who  through  the  death  of  friends  or  other  causes  find  such 
a  refuge  desirable.  Its  beneficence  is  not  restricted  by  sectarian, 
local,  or  race  limitations,  except  that  applicants  for  admission  must 
be  citizens  of  Connecticut,  not  under  sixty  years  old,  and  in  reduced 
circumstances.  The  grounds  and  building  cost  $120,940.20.  At  the 
close  of  the  last  year  there  were  forty-six  permanent  inmates  and 
ten  boarders.  From  lack  of  funds  the  Home  is  largely  dependent 
on  current  contributions  for  support. 

P.  M.   Hastings,  M.  D.,  is  supervisor. 


204  THE    CITY    OF    HARTFORD,    CONN. 

HARTFORD     ORPHAN     ASYLUM. 

After  some  preliminary  efforts  extending  back  to  1829,  the  Hartford 
Orphan  Asylum  was  chartered  by  the  State  in  May,  1833.  The 
institution  drew  its  early  support  mainly  from  contributions  collected 
in  the  churches.  In  1836,  a  building  on  Washington  street  was  pre- 
sented to  it  and  to  the  Female  Beneficent  Society,  founded  in  18 19, 
for  friendless  and  indigent  little  girls.  In  1865,  the  two  were  united 
by  permission  from  the  legislature.  In  1875,  a  1°*  fourteen  acres  in 
extent,  between  Capitol  avenue  and  .Park  street,  was  purchased,  and 
through  the  generous  contributions  of  our  people  the  present  com- 
modious and  attractive  building  was  ready  for  occupancy  in  October, 
1878.  As  many  as  seventy-five  little  children  are.  cared  for  at  one 
time,  and,  surrounded  by  pleasant  and  wholesome  influences,  are  given 
the  privileges  of  a  good  home.  From  the  character  of  its  work  this 
charity  has  always  commanded  the  warm  support  of  the  benevolent. 

In  187 1,  after  several  years  of  effort,  the  Women's  Christian 
Association  opened  a  "  boarding  home "  for  women  on  Church 
street,  at  a  cost  for  land  and  building  of  about  thirty  thousand  dol- 
lars, raised  by  voluntary  contributions.  It  has  accommodations  for 
about  fifty  persons  and  is  self-supporting,  as  the  advantages  it  offers 
are  highly  prized  and  eagerly  sought. 

The  City  Missionary  Society,  started  in  1850  as  a  mission 
Sunday-school,  under  the  earnest  labors  of  David  Hawley,  and  after 
his  death  in  1S76  of  Mrs.  Virginia  T.  Smith,  has  expanded  into  a 
comprehensive  charity,  which  on  several  quite  distinct  lines  of  effort 
aims  not  only  to  relieve  present  wants  but  to  fit  both  old  and  young 
to  care  for  themselves.  It  has  industrial  rooms  in  the  city,  a  summer 
resort  for  poor  children  in  the  country  supported  from  the  "  fresh  air 
fund,"  a  free  employment  bureau,  a  loan  fund  for  assisting  the  dis- 
tressed over  temporary  difficulties,  etc.  Mrs.  Lucy  S.  Church,  who 
passed  away  in  July,  1888,  left  to  the  society  a  bequest  of  $50,000, 
which  may  be  devoted  in  whole  or  in  part  to  the  erection  of  a  build- 
ing for  its  uses. 

The    Union    for    Home    Work,    non-sectarian    in    character,    was 


BENEVOLENT    ORGANIZATION'S.  205 

organized  in  1872,  with  the  special  view  of  improving  and  elevating 
the  condition  of  poor  women  and  children.  The  Union  owns  a  build- 
ing on  Market  street,  erected  by  subscription  at  a  cost  of  $22,000, 
and  opened  in  1884.  Through  its  efforts  the  sanitary  features  and 
comforts  of  cheap  tenements  have  been  materially  improved.  It  "has 
a  library  of  2,000  volumes,  reading-rooms  for  boys  and  girls,  a  day- 
nursery,  industrial  schools,  etc.  The  work  is  carried  on  under  the 
immediate  superintendence  of  Mrs.  E.  L.   Sluyter. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  with  a  membership 
of  about  nine  hundred,  ranks  first  in  the  State  in  numerical  strength. 
It  has  an  elaborate  gymnasium  and  fine  reading  and  social  rooms. 
By  gift  from  Gen.  Charles  T.  Hillyer,  the  Association  has  recently 
become  the  owner  of  a  valuable  lot  overlooking  Bushnell  Park,  where 
it  expects  soon  to  erect  a  suitable  building. 

The  United  Workers  and  Woman's  Exchange  was  started  rive 
years  ago  under  a  different  name,  to  do  for  girls  deprived  of  the 
advantages  of  home-life  what  Christian  associations  aim  to  do  for 
young  men.  A  parlor  and  library  are  open  every  evening  except 
Sunday,  where  girls  can  meet  socially,  and,  if  they  desire,  for  instruc- 
tion in  drawing,  elocution,  fancy  work,  dress-making,  etc.  Women 
can  also  bring  their  work  to  the  Exchange  for  sale. 

Within  a  year,  through  gifts  ranging  from  a  few  cents  to  thou- 
sands of  dollars,  Seminary  Hall  on  Pratt  street,  once  a  famous  school 
for  young  ladies,  has  been  bought  and  fitted  up  with  a  library,  read- 
ing and  play  rooms,  etc.,  for  the  permanent  use  of  the  newsboys  of 
the  city,  under  the  name  of  the  Good  Will  Club.  The  rentals  from 
two  fine  halls  on  the  second  floor  will  largely  provide  the  means  for 
meeting  current  expenses.  Thus  far  the  expenditure  for  property 
and  construction  exceeds  £20,000. 

There  are  other  benevolent  organizations  in  the  city  which  are 
here  omitted,  as  it  is  the  object  of  this  volume,  in  matters  outside  of 
our  industrial  activities,  to  present  classes  of  facts  which  illustrate  the 
spirit  and  character  of  the  people,  rather  than  to  give  general 
historical  details,    or  to  catalogue  existing  associations. 


206  THE  CITY  OF  HARTFORD,  CONN. 

CONCLUSION. 

On  looking  into  the  mechanical  industries  of  Hartford,  attention  is 
continually  called  to  the  high  standard  of  excellence  which  constitutes 
perhaps  the  most  distinctive  feature  of  the  situation.  Many  instances 
might  be  given  of  the  intolerance  of  our  artisans  toward  crude  models 
and  poor  work.  Often  have  they  refused  proffered  contracts,  though 
backed  by  good  security  and  padded  with  ample  profits,  because  the 
designs  submitted  were  too  faulty  for  successful  use.  They  would 
not  take  the  money  of  a  deluded  enthusiast,  knowing  that  the  results 
could  produce  no  equivalent  in   return. 

Well-directed  labor,  intelligently  and  faithfully  performed,  is  in  itself 
both  a  moral  discipline  and  an  ennobling  form  of  worship.  The 
object  wrought  upon  embodies  a  manifestation  of  the  spirit  of  the 
maker  to  the  Spirit  of  the  universe,  needing  the  eloquence  of  no 
advocate  to  proclaim  its  worth.  Bad  work,  on  the  contrary,  whether 
buried  in  the  walls  of  unsound  structures,  or  in  whatever  shape  put 
forth,  builds  up  an  indictment  which  neither  prayers  nor  tears  can 
change.  Viewed  in  its  relation  to  the  unfoldment  of  character,  it  is  a 
rare  privilege  to  belong  to  a  community  of  which  the  story  given  in  these 
pages  can  be  truthfully  told.  Of  such,  indeed,  has  it  not  been  said, 
"  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant ;  thou  hast  been  faithful 
over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things ;  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  lord"? 


/^ppepdix. 


Articles  of  Association  of  the    Board  of   Trade  of  the  City  of 

Hartford. 

Article  i.  The  name  of  this  Association  shall  be  the  Board  of 
Trade  of  the  City  of  Hartford,  Conn. 

Article  2.  The  object  of  this  Association  shall  be  to  unite  the 
energies  of  our  citizens  in  a  common  effort  to  promote  the  material 
interests  of  our  city,  and  to  foster  and  encourage  all  those  industrial 
enterprises  which  shall  tend  to  develop  the  sources  of  wealth  and 
advance  public  and  private  prosperity. 

Article  3.  The  officers  of  this  Association  shall  be  a  President, 
two  Vice-Presidents,  a  Secretary,  a  Treasurer,  and  twenty-five  Directors. 

Article  4.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  be  chosen  by  the  Asso- 
ciation, by  ballot,  at  their  annual  meeting,  which  shall  be  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  January  in  each  and  every  year  ;  and  the  Board  so  chosen 
shall  elect  the  President  and  Vice-Presidents  by  ballot,  and  shall  appoint 
the  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Article  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Directors  to 
encourage  and  stimulate  in  ever)''  suitable  way  the  business  interests  of 
this  city  and  to  promote  its  welfare,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
special  committees,  appointed  by  the  President  from  time  to  time  for 
the  purpose,  to  examine  all  plans  and  suggestions  that  may  seem  im- 
portant to  the  general  interests  of  our  city,  to  investigate  mechanical 
inventions  and  manufacturing,  and  other  enterprises,  and  report  to  the 
Association  the  value  of  them,  and  what  steps,  if  any,  may  be  necessary 
to  procure  their  development  and  location  in  our  midst. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  Board  of  Directors  to  receive  applications 
in  behalf  of  meritorious  inventions  and  enterprises,  and  bring  them  to 
the  attention  of  capital  seeking  investment. 

(207) 


208  APPENDIX. 

Article  6.  Said  Board  of  Directors  may  prescribe  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  they  may  deem  expedient  and  necessary  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Association  and  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  objects  thereof 
not  inconsistent  with  the  articles  of  association  and  by-laws,  and  said 
Board  shall  have  power  to  fill  any  and  all  vacancies  which  may  be 
occasioned  by  death  or  resignation. 

Article  7.  The  dues  or  assessment  for  any  one  fiscal  year  shall 
not  exceed  ten  dollars  for  each  individual  member. 

Article  8.  These  articles  may  be  altered  or  amended  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Association,  or  at  any  subsequent  meeting  duly  warned 
for  that  purpose. 


By-Cau/5  of  ttye  Board  of  Jrade. 


ARTICLE    I. 

Meetings  of  the  Association. 
The  annual  meeting  of  this  Association  shall  be  held  on  the  second 
Tuesday  in  January,  in  each  and  every  year,  and  the  regular  meetings 
at  such  intervals  as  the  Association  may  from  time  to  time  prescribe. 

ARTICLE  II. 
Special  Meetings. 
Special  meetings  of  the  Association  may  be  called  at  any  time  by  the 
President  or  Secretary,  and  shall  be  called  by  the  Secretary  on  the 
request,  in  writing,  of  seven  of  the  Directors  or  twelve  members  of  the 
Association.  Notice  of  such  special  meeting  may  be  given  to  the 
members  through  the  mail,  or  by  publication  in  a  daily  paper  published 
in  Hartford,  at  least  two  secular  days  before  said  meeting. 

ARTICLE    III. 
A  Quorum. 
At   all  regular  or  special  meetings  fifteen  members  shall  constitute 
a  qu'orum. 

ARTICLE  IV. 
Board  of  Directors. 
The  Board  of  Directors  shall  consist  of  twenty-five  members ;  and 
from  their  number  they  shall  elect  a  President  and  one  of  the  two  Vice- 
Presidents.  Said  Board  shall  manage  the  property,  affairs,  business,  and 
concerns  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  but  shall  incur  no  single  item  of 
expense  or  contract  liabilities  on  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trade  exceeding 
the  sum  of  $100,  except  as  salaries  and  rents,  without  the  sanction  of  the 
Board  of  Trade. 

1 1  (  209 ) 


2IO  BY-LAWS    OF    THE    BOARD    OF    TRADE. 

ARTICLE   V. 

All  officers  elected  by  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  their  respect- 
ive offices  until  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Association,  and  until 
their  successors  are  duly  elected  and  qualified. 

ARTICLE   VI. 
Quorum  of  Directors. 
Seven  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  constitute  a  quorum 
of  said  Board,  whose  duties  are  set  forth  in  Articles  V  and  VI  of  the 
original  Articles  of  the  Association,  and  Article  IV  of  these  by-laws. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  President. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  to  attend  and  preside  at  all  the 
meetings  of  the  Association  or  the  board  of  directors,  and  in  his  absence 
one  of  the  vice-presidents  shall  preside,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  presi- 
dent and  both  vice-presidents,  the  meeting  may  appoint  its  own  chairman. 
The  president  may  appoint  standing  committees,  and  from  time  to  time 
special  committees  from  the  board  of  directors  and  the  membership  at 
large,  to  investigate  and  report  upon  designated  subjects. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

The  Secretary. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  keep  a  true  and  correct  record 
of  all  votes,  acts,  and  proceedings  of  the  Association,  and  of  the  board  of 
directors,  and  of  the  special  committees,  to  issue  all  notices  that  may  be 
required  by  the  president  or  other  proper  authority ;  to  keep  in  a  suitable 
book  the  name  of  each  member  of  the  Association  ;  and  at  the  annual 
meeting  to  report  the  transactions  of  the  Association  for  the  previous 
year ;  to  notify  members  and  all  officers  of  their  election.  The  secretary 
shall  receive  such  compensation  as  the  directors  may  from  time  to  time 

vote. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

The  Treasurer. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  receive  and  take  charge  of  all 

moneys   of   the    Association   and   to   disburse  the   same  only  upon  the 

written  approval  of  the  president,  and  annually,  and  at  such  other  times 


BYLAWS    OF    THE    BOARD    OF    TRADE.  211 

as  he  may  be  called  upon,  to  report  the  financial  condition  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. He  shall  furnish  bonds  as  required  by  the  directors.  All  money 
shall  be  deposited  to  the  credit  of  the  Board  of  Trade. 

ARTICLE  X. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Any  individual  residing,  or  doing  business  in  the  City  of  Hartford, 
may  become  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  on  the  recommendation  of 
three  members,  and  the  approval  of  the  membership  committee,  and  by 
signing  the  articles  of  Association  and  agreeing  to  pay  the  annual  dues. 

Annual  dues  or  assessments  shall  be  levied  on  all  persons  who  are 
members  of  the  Association  during  the  year,  except  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided. The  fiscal  year  for  which  assessments  are  made  shall  expire  at 
the  annual  meeting  held  next  after  the  assessment  is  made,  unless  the 
vote  making  such  assessment  shall  specify  otherwise. 

The  fees  or  assessments  made  during  any  one  fiscal  year  shall  not  ex- 
ceed ten  dollars,  but  all  new  members  shall  pay  ten  dollars  for  the 
remainder  of  the  first  fiscal  year  of  their  membership,  and  in  lieu  of  all 
assessments  for  said  period. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

Suspension  or  Expulsion. 

Any  member  may  be  suspended  or  expelled  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds 
of  all  the  members  of  the  Association  present. 

No  member  shall  be  suspended  beyond  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Association  or  expelled  without  first  being  made  acquainted  with  the 
charges  against  him,  and  he  shall  have  a  right  to  appear  before  the 
Association  in  his  own  defense.  No  expelled  member  shall  be  re-ad- 
mitted to  the  Association  within  twelve  months  from  date  of  expulsion, 
unless  by  unanimous  vote  of  the  Association  at  a  regular  meeting. 
Non-payment  of  any  dues,  after  thirty  days'  notice,  shall  be  sufficient 
cause  for  dropping  any  member  from  the  roll  of  membership. 

ARTICLE  XII. 
Parliamentarv  Authoritv. 

The  rules  of  order  and  parliamentary  practice  shall  be  in  accordance 
with  Cushinsf's  Manual. 


212  BY-LAWS    OF    THE    BOARD    OF    TRADE. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 
Order  of  Business. 
Order  of  business  shall  be  as  follows : 
i.     Minutes  of  the  previous  meeting. 

2.  Communications. 

3.  Reports  of  committees,  regular  and  special. 

4.  At  annual  meetings,  reports  of  secretary,  treasurer,  and  board  of 
directors. 

5.  At  annual  meetings,  election  of  directors. 

6.  New  business. 

7.  Miscellaneous  business. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 
Amendments  to  By-Laws. 
These  by-laws  may  be  repealed,  altered,  or  amended,  at  any  meeting 
of  the  Association,  duly  called,  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  members  of  the 
Association  present,  provided  such  change  or  changes  shall  have  been 
recommended  by  the  board  of  directors  at  a  meeting  held  at  least  one 
week  before  action  upon  them  is  submitted  to  the  Association,  and  notice 
of  the  same  published  in  at  least  two  daily  papers  of  the  city  three  days 
before  the  meeting  of  the  Association  which  is  to  vote  upon  them.  But 
any  by-law  may  be  suspended  at  any  meeting  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  all 
the  members  present,  but  for  that  meeting  only. 


\r)d<(x. 


Abbott,  William  G.,  52. 
Adams,  Chester,  182. 
^Etna  Brass  Foundry,  150. 

Insurance  Company,  26  foil,  31,  44,52. 
Life  Insurance  Co.,  52  foil,  69,  93. 
Pyrotechnic  Company,  150. 
Accident  Losses  at  Carr's  Rock,  New  Ham- 
burg,   Steamer   Metis,  Ashtabula,  and 
Chattsworth,  65. 
Albany  fire,  24. 
Alexander,  David,  25. 

Thomas  A.,  30. 
Allen,  F.  B.,  70. 

J.  M.,  66-7-8-70. 
Allyn,  N.  B.,  142. 

Timothy  C,  25. 
Timothy  M.,  81. 
Allyn  &  Blanchard,  142  foil. 
American  Asylum,  193  foil. 

Publishing  Company,  134. 

Screw  Co.,  119. 

Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers, 

in. 
Writing  Machine  Co.,  137  foil. 
Amerman,  P.  &  Son,  147. 
Andros,  Sir  Edmund,  17 1. 
Andrus,  Silas,  81,  99. 
Archibald,  E.  M.,  114. 
Arms  Pocket  Book  Company,  149. 
Arnold,  Benedict,  169. 
Arsenal,  The,  164. 
Ashmead,  J.  H.,  136. 
Ashmead  &  Hurlburt,  136. 
J.  H.  &  Son,  147. 
Aspenvrall,  George,  142. 
Atlantic  Screw  Works,  147. 
Athenaeum,  The,  166. 

Art  Gallery,  169. 
Augusta,  Me.,  fire,  24. 
Austin,  John,  79. 

Babcock,  Theodore  H.,  70. 


Bachelor,  Samuel  H.,  90,  109. 
Backus,  S.  H.,  141. 
Bacon,  M.  Louise,  181. 
Baker,  C.  F./148. 

H.  C,  148. 
Balch  &  Hart,  135. 
Ball,  Stephen,  60. 
Banks  of  Discount,  72. 

officers,  71. 

statistics,  71. 

savings,  72. 

statistics,  73-4. 
Barnes,  A.  S.  &  Co.,  82,  98. 
Barnum,  Joseph  H.,  191. 
William  H.,  141. 
Bassett,  E.  J.,  30,  33. 
Batterson,  J.  G.,  60-2-4-5. 
Bayne,  Andrew  C,  30. 
Beach,  Charles  M.,  67. 

George  W.,  140. 

Henry  B.,  83,  and  son,  83,  151. 
Beach  &  Co.,  125. 

Beach  Manufacturing  Company,  139  folk 
Beecher,  Catherine  E.  and  Mary,  180. 
Belden,  F.  E.,  116. 
Bellmaking,  76. 
Bennett,  M.  Jr.,  36. 
Bidwell,  Pitkin  &  Company,  106. 
Billings,  Charles  E.,  112,  116,  118. 

Fred  C,  118. 
Billings  &  Spencer  Company,  91,  116,  foil. 
Bird,  Isaac,  181. 
Birkey,  C,  150. 
Bishop,  Seth  W.,  no. 
Bissell,  G.  F.,  25. 

Henry,  123. 
Blake,  T.  J.  &  Son,  150. 
Blanchard,  Homer,  112. 
Joseph,  66. 
O.  IL,  60,  142. 
Bliss,  Frank  E.,  135. 
Walter,  135. 

(213) 


214 


INDEX. 


Blodgett,  R.  F.,  no. 
Board  of  Trade,  4. 

articles  of  association,  207  foil. 

by-laws,  209  foil. 

committees,  5  foil. 

directors,  5 

members,  7  foil. 
Boardman,  T.  D.  &  Son,  80. 
Bolles,  James  G.,  25. 
Bond,  George  M.,  in. 
Bonsilate  Box  Company,  148. 
Book  publishing,  81,  96-8,  134. 
Boston  fire  of  1872,  25,  34-6-9,  41-4. 
Bourn,  Benjamin  A.,  100. 

S.,  100. 
Brace,  Thomas  K.,  26-7-8,  30-2. 
Bragaw,  Isaac,  125. 
Brainard,  Leverett,  97. 
Brewster,  Elder,  169. 
Brocklesby,  Professor  John,  172. 
Brooks,  John  W.,  41. 
Brown,  Flavius  A.,  175. 
J.  S.,  82,  98 
Luther  R.,  98-9. 
Brown  &  Drake,  98. 
Browne,  J.  D.,  36. 
Buckingham,  William  A.,  164. 
Stephen  M  ,  185. 
Buildings,  public,  163  foil. 
Bulkeley,  E.  A.,  46-8,  52-5. 

Morgan  G.,  55. 
Bunce,  J.  B.,  56,  201. 
Burdick,  George  H.,  34. 
Burnell,  C.  J.,  140. 
Burnham,  L.  C,  95-6. 
Burr,  Alfred  E.,  191. 

Index  Company,  140. 
J.  B.  &  Co.,  149. 
J.  B.  Publishing,  140. 
Burt,  Charles  R.,  36. 
Bushnell,  Horace,  161. 
Butler,  John  A.  Jr.,  140. 

Cady,  Ernest,  134. 

Calhoun  Printing  Company,  149. 

Callaghan,  C.  J.,  151. 

Canfield,  Philemon,  95. 

Capewell,  George  J.,  144. 

Capewell  Horse  Nail  Company,  144, 

Capron,  Samuel  M.,  179. 

Case,  Newton,  95,  187.  [foil.,  124. 

Case,  Lockwood  &  Brainard  Co.,  The,  95 


Case  &  Tiffany,  82,  95-8. 

Catlin,  Julius,  43. 

Chapman,  Maro  S.,  129-30. 

Charles  II,  169-71. 

Charter,  The,  from  Charles  II.  171. 

Charter  Oak,  171. 

Life   Insurance  Company,  21. 
Chase,  George  L.,  25-6. 
Cheney  Brothers,  75. 
Chicago  fire   of  1871,   25-7,  30-1-2-6-8-9, 

43-4.  65. 
Chillicothe  fire  of  1S52,  29. 
Chilton  Manufacturing  Company,  148. 
Chromo  poster,  The  first,  30. 
Churches  of  Hartford,  198. 
Church,  Lucy  S.,  204. 
City  Fire  Insurance  Company,  40-1. 
City  Hall,  164. 
City  Missionary  Society,  204. 
Clark,  Charles  H.,  190. 

Edred  W.,  151. 

Fayette  C,  142. 

William  B.,  30-4. 
Clark  &  Smith,  149. 
Clarke,  L.  W.,  36. 
Cogswell,  Dr.  Mason  F.,  193. 
Cole,  Thomas,  169. 
Collins,  Atwood,  194. 
Colt,  Caldwell  H.,  92. 

Samuel,  66,84-7-8-9-90-1,  109-16-19. 
Mrs.,  89. 
Colt's  Patent  Fire  Arms  Mfg.  Co.,  87  foil. 
Columbus,  C,  23. 
Comparator,  The,  III. 
Comstock's  school  books,  98. 
Cone,  William  R.,  196. 
Connecticut  General  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, 57  foil. 
Connecticut  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  34  foil.,  44. 
Historical  Society,  166  foil. 
Motor  Company,  147. 
Mutual    Life    Insurance    Com- 
pany, 46  foil.,  57,  93. 
Western  R.  R.,  19. 
Consolidated  Road,  18,  109. 
Constitution  of  1818,  17,  77,  172,  191. 
Convention  of  1787,  16. 
Cook,  A.  S.,  119-20. 

H.  W.,  41. 

John  F.,  120. 

Millard  F.,  120. 
Cooke,  O.  D.  &  Son,  81. 


INDEX. 


21 


Cooley,  A.  G.,  97. 

Francis  B.,  194. 
Copeland,  D.  P.,  S3. 
County  building,  164. 
Courant,  Daily,  190. 
Cross,  I.,  44. 
Curley,  John,  150. 
Curtis,  T.  W.  T.,  179-S1. 
Cushman,  A.  F.,  119. 

Dwight,  150. 

E.  L.,  119. 
Cushman  Chuck  Company,  119. 

Davies,  Charles,  64. 
Davis,  G.  F.,  65. 
I.  B.,  147- 
Day,  George  H.,  112-15-16,  140-45- 

Isaac  A.,  33. 
Dennis,  Rodney,  62-5,  196. 
Dickson,  Robert,  38. 
Dodd,  Samuel,  176. 
Dodd,  W.  H.  &Co.,  150. 
Doolittle  &  Goodyear,  77. 
Dornin,  George  D.,  40. 
Drake,  John  B.,  34. 

Sidney,  98. 
Drake,  Brown  &  Co.,  98-9. 
Drake,  Parsons  &  Co.,  98  foil. 
Draper,  Misses,  school  of,  181. 
Dresser,  Charles  H.,  146. 
Dudley,  James  F.,  30. 
Dwight  Slate  Machine  Company,  147. 

Eagle  Eylet  Works,  151. 

Edwards,  Irad,  141. 

Edwards  &  Kelley,  141. 

Electric  lights  in  Hartford,  152. 

Eldridge,  John  B.,  34. 

Ellis,  George,  65. 

Ellsworth,  H.  L.,  64.  [ter,  155. 

Employes  in  Hartford,  number  and  charac- 

Enders,  Thomas  O.,  52-5. 

English,  J.  L.,  55. 

Erving,  D.  D.,  43. 

R.  A.,  43. 

R.  K.,  140. 

William  A.,  43. 

Fair  of  R.  O.  Tyler  Post,  12S. 
Fairbairn,  Sir  Wm.,  66. 
Fairbanks  &  Co.,  134. 
Fairfield,  Geo.  A.,  112,  20-23-37. 
J.  M.,  139. 


Farmer,  Brace  &  Co.,  98. 
Farnham.  J.  N.,  124. 
Fessenden,  E.,  56. 
Fire  department,  152. 
Forest  fires,  34. 
Foster,  Fred.  S.,  60. 
Fourdrinicr,  first,  the,  82. 
Fowler  &  Miller  Company,  149. 
Francis,  H.  H.,  125. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  169. 

Homer,  81. 

Wm.  B.,  70,  92. 
French,  J.  S.,  141. 
Frisbie,  L.  T.  &  Son,  150. 
Fuller,  J.  W.,  142. 

Galacar,  Charles  E.,  34. 

Gallaudet,  Thomas  H.,  193. 

Gardner  gun,  1 12. 

Garfield,  James  A.,  103. 

Gas,  152. 

Gatling  gun,  92. 

Geer,  Elihu,  131. 

Geer's  Hartford  directory,  4,  131-53. 

Gillett,  Francis,  56. 

Ralph,  44. 
Godbee,  J.  E.,  125. 
Gold,  Stephen  J.,  10S. 
Goodman,  A.  C,  56,  98. 
Goodnow,  J.,  30. 
Goodrich,  A.  R.,  60. 

Wm.  IT.,  190. 
Goodwill  Club,  205. 
Goodwin,  James,  4S. 

Mrs.,  185. 

William,  15. 
Goodwin,  Dodd  &  Gilbert,  82. 
Gordy,  W.  F,  17S. 
Gough's  "  Platform  Echoes,"  99. 
Grant,  David,  42. 
U.  S.,  102. 
Graves,  Joseph  A.,  176. 
Gray,  John  S.,  125. 

John  W.,  125. 
Green,  Charles,  124. 
Greene,  B.  W.,  34. 

Jacob  L.,  48,  52. 
Grove  Works  Dye-Wood  Mills,  125. 

Haines,  E.  H.,  1S1. 
Hale,  B.  E.,  56. 

Nathan,  169. 


2l6 


INDEX. 


Hall,  Ezra,  191. 
John  H.,  92. 
Joseph,  179. 
Halls,  public,  152. 
Hamlin  Pump  Company,  150. 
Hanks,  Alpheus  &  Truman,  82. 
Harbison,  Hugh,  176. 
Harris,  Chauncey,  176. 
Harrison,  Benjamin,  76. 
Henry  B.,  176. 
Hart,  Edward,  135. 
S.  N,  135- 
S.  N.,  estate  of,  135. 
Hartford  Art  Society,  170. 
Bank,  142. 

Cement  Tile  Company,  150. 
Chemical  Company,  149. 
County    Mutual    Fire    Insurance 

Company,  42  foil. 
Consolidated    Chemical    Engine 

Company,  149. 
Female  Seminary,  1S1. 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  22  foil., 

31-4,  44,  88,  144. 
Glass  Water  Closet  Co.,  151. 
Hammer  Company,  126. 
Heel  Plate  Company,  149. 
Hospital,  201. 
Library  Association,  166. 
Machine  Screw  Company,  91, 120 

foil.,  138. 
Orphan  Asylum,  204. 
Rubber  Works  Company,  125. 
Silver  Plate  Company,  149. 
Steam  Boiler  Insurance  and  In- 
spection Company,  66  foil. 
Theological    Seminary,    168,    187 

foil. 
Woven  Wire  Mattress  Co.,  123. 
Wire  Works,  148. 
Hartford,  advantages  of  location,  17;  book 
publishing,  80-1,  95  foil.,  98  foil.,  134 
foil.;   buildings,  public,  163  foil.;   con- 
tributions to  constitutional  self-govern- 
ment, 16;  drives,  18;  early  settlements, 
i3;  electric  light,  152  ;  fire  department, 
152;  gas,  152;  halls,  152;  hotels,  152; 
labor  troubles,  freedom  from,  84 ;    li- 
braries, 166;  parks,  161;  police,  152; 
population,    153;     port    of    entry,    20; 
press,  the,    190;    railway   service,   18; 
schools,  172;  sewerage,  152;  situation, 


business  in  181S,  80;  streets,  152;  street 
railways,   152;    taxes,   154;    trade,  80, 
156;    water  supply,  157;    wealth,  153; 
workmen,  155. 
Hastings,  F.  H.,  151. 

P.  M.,  Dr.,  201. 
Hatch,  Charles  P.  &  Co.,  148. 

Edward,  132. 
Havens,  W.  H.,  43. 
Hawes,  Joel,  Rev.,  100. 
Hawley,  David,  204. 

George  B.,  124. 

Joseph  R.,  190. 
Hayden,  H.  H.,  67-70. 
Hazard,  Augustus  E.,  28. 
Hendee,  Lucius  J.,  30. 
Hilliard,  J.  C,  30. 
Hills'  Lawn  Mower  Company,  147. 
Hillyer,  Charles  T.,  205. 
Hitchcock  &  Curtiss  Knitting  Co.,  147. 
Hoadley,  E.  J.,  150. 
Hogan  Manufacturing  Companv,  151. 
Hollister,  C.  H.,  30. 
Holt,  L.  H.,  11S. 

Hooker,  Rev.  Thomas,  14-5-6,  62,  198. 
Hopkins,  Edward,  173. 
Hosmer  Hall  Choral  Union,  188. 
Hosmer,  James  B.,  187. 
Hotchkiss  gun,  112. 
Hotels,  152. 
House  &  Brown,  98. 
Howard,  Charles  F.,  66. 

Frank  L.,  104. 

George  E.,  104. 

James  L.,  43-5-6,  104. 

Mark,  3S-9. 
Howard,  James  L.  Company,  104. 
Howe,  Daniel  R.,  194. 

John  C,  139. 
Hubbard,  Amos  H.,  82. 
Gurdon  S.,  27. 
Stephen  A.,  190. 
Hudson,  B.,  55-6. 

F.  V.,  58. 

Henry,  82. 
Hudson  &  Goodwin,  81. 
Huntington,  Hezekiah,  25. 
Huntley,  Lydia,  180. 
Hugunin,  R.  B.,  151. 
Hunt  &  Holbrook,  147. 
Hurlburt,  Edmund,  104. 
Hurlburt,  E.  &  Co.,  136. 


INDEX. 


217 


Hutiburt  &  Howard.  104 
Hyde,  Salisbury,  141 

Industries,  miscellaneous,  77. 

Insurance,  20;  Hartford  pre-eminence,  how 
won,  20;  intelligence  and  integrity  of 
management  the  secret  of  success,  21 ; 
losses  at  Chicago  and  Boston,  44 ; 
profits  used  to  swell  reserves,  44;  need 
of  strength,  45;  a  vital  element  in 
credits,  45 ;  legislative  interference,  45. 

Insurance.  Life,  45;  beginnings  In  Hart 
ford,  45;  opposed  as  irreligious,  46; 
sermon  of  a  Baptist  elder,  46. 

Jackson,  president  of  Trinity,  183. 
Jacobs,  W.  W.,  20. 
Jail,  old,  96. 
James  II.,  17 1-2. 

Fred  S  ,  40. 
Jaros,  Samuel,  139-40. 
Jarvis,  R.  W.  H  ,  67,  91. 
Jenness,  F.  W.,  30. 
Jewell,  Charles  A.,  101-3-4. 

Harvey,  103. 

Lyman  B.,  101-3. 

Marshall,  32-3,  101-2-3,  191. 

Pliny,  Sr.,  101-2. 

Pliny,  Jr.,  101-3-4. 
Jewell,  P.  &  Sons,  101  foil.,  105. 
Jewell  Pin  Company,  103. 
Johns,  H.  W.,  131-2. 
Johns  —  Pratt  Company,  131. 
Johnson,  William,  136. 
Jillson,  Asa  W.,  34. 
Jones,  H.  N.  &  Co.,  150. 
Jones  &  Little,  151. 
Judd,  E.  H.,  148. 
J.  W,  81. 

Kellar,  George,  161. 

Kellogg,  Henry,  31-2-4. 

Kellogg  lS;  Bulkeley  Company,  147. 

Kimball,  C.  C,  146,  178. 

King,  Wm.  H.,  30. 

Kinneer,  Mrs.,  school  of,  181. 

Kinsley,  Ur.  Apollos,  77. 

Knous,  John.  116. 

Krajewski,  P.  W.,  150. 

Krug,  Powers  &  Co.,  1 50. 

Lang,  A.  W.,  149. 
Lanman,  J.  K.,  123. 


Laragy,  Patrick,  148. 
Lawrence,  Sir  Thos.,  169. 
Ledyard,  Col.,  169. 
Leschke,  E.  &  Co.,  1 50. 
Lester,  Geo.  W.,  40. 
Lewis,  E.  C,  144 
J.  B.,  65. 
Libraries,  public,  166. 
Lincoln,  Abraham,  16. 

Charles  G.,  143. 

Charles  L.,  93. 

Charles  P  ,  93. 

Geo.  S.,  92,  &  Co.,  92. 

Levi,  83,  92-3. 

Theodore  M.,  93. 
Lobdell,  E.  Thomas,  38. 
Lockwood,  James,  96-7. 
Wm.  H.,  147. 
Locomotive,  The,  68. 
Loomis,  Simeon  L.,  27,  32. 
Lord,  Horace,  90. 
Lyman,  C.  C,  24. 

Magill,  H.  M.,  33. 

Manchester  (Eng.)  Steam  Users  Associa- 
tion, 66. 

Mansuy  Carriage  Mfg.  Co.,  14S. 

Manufacturers,  early,  75  foil.;  solidity  of, 
154;  high  standard  of,  in  Hartford,  S4, 
206,  et  passim. 

Mason,  C.  A.,  144.- 
John,  15. 

Massachusetts  Bay,  13-4-6-7,  62,  172. 

Matson,  Wm.,  124. 

Wm.  L.,  140. 

Merchants  Fire  Ins.  Co.,  38-9,  40. 

Merriam,  G.  &  C,  98. 

Mitchell,  J.  IL,  34. 
Walter,  22. 

Montreal  Fire  of  1S52,  29. 

Morehouse,  Geo.  E.,  139. 

Morgan,  Joseph,  28. 

Junius  S.,  184. 
N.  H.,  31. 

Morgan  Envelope  Co.,  126. 

Morrell,  Daniel,  120-3. 

Morris,  John  E.,  63. 

Morse,  A.,  17S. 

Morton,  Levi  P.,  76.  , 

Moseley's,  D.  B.,  Sons,  149,  191. 

Mugford,  A.,  149. 

Mutual  Benefit  Life  Ins.  Co.,  60. 


2li 


INDEX. 


Myers,  W.  J.,  124. 

Nantucket  fire,  24. 

National  Benefit  Life  Association,  60. 
National  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  38  foil.,  44. 
Machine  Co.,  148. 
Screw  Co.,  119. 
Nelson,  R.  W.,  145. 
New  England  Card  Co.,  92. 

Railway,  19,  109. 
New  Haven  Colony,  17 1-2. 
Newton,  Charles  E.,  103. 
New  York  Fire  of  1835,  24. 

of  1S45,  24-S. 
Ney,  J.  M.,  &  Co.,  136. 
Nichols,  C.  F.,  151. 

James,  3S-9,  40. 
Niles,  James  S.,  58. 
John  M.,  So. 
Jonathan  S.,  112. 
Northam,  Charles  H.,  184. 
Mrs.,  1S4. 

Old  People's  Home,  201. 
Olney's  School  Books,  9S. 
Orient  Insurance  Co.,  40  foil.,  44. 
Osgood,  Edward  L  ,  4. 

Palmer,  N.,  142,  tV  Co.,  142. 
Park  Knitting  Works,  148. 

Publishing  Co.,  147. 
Parker,  T.  M.,  151. 
Parks,  Wm.  T.,  141-2. 
Parks  &  Savage,  141  foil. 
Parks  (city),  161. 
Parsons,  Ed.  W.,  5S. 

John  G.,  98. 
Patent  Arms  Mfg.  Co.  of  New  Jersey,  88. 
Patton,  Francis  L , 
Pease,  John  C,  So. 
Peck,  E.  B.,  58. 
Peek,  D.  W.  J.,  60. 
Peerless  Wire  Mattress  Co.,  150. 
Pequot  War,   15. 
Perkins,  George  C,  124. 

Isaac,  26-S. 
Perry,  Esther  C,  178. 
Phelps,  Elihu,  42. 

Guy  R.,  46-8,  57. 
Phelps  &  Spafford,  82. 
Phillips  <k  Sampson,  98-9. 
Phcenix  Brass  Foundry,  150. 

Fire  Insurance  Co.,  31  foil.,  44. 


Phoenix  Iron  Works,  S3,  92  foil.,  109. 
Mutual  Life  Ins.  Co.,  55  foil. 
Wood  Working  Co.,  14S. 
Pickering,  W.  H.  »X:  Co.,  149. 
Piddock,  Chas.  A.,  191. 
Pierce,  J.  B.,  70. 
Pitkin,  A.  P.,  108. 

Charles  A.,  108. 

Elisha,  77-9. 

Henry  &  James  F.,  79. 

John  O.  &  Walter,  79. 

Joseph,  77-9. 

Norman  T.,  108. 

Samuel,  79. 

W.  L.  &  H.  E.,  1 48. 
Pitkin  Bros.  &  Co.,  Iron  Works,  106  foil. 
Pitkin   family   prominence  in  early  manu- 
factures, 77. 
Plimpton,  Frederick,  130. 
F.  W.,  130. 
Linus  B.,   126-30. 
Plimpton  Manufacturing  Co.,  126  foil. 
Police,  152. 

Polytechnic  Club,  the,  66. 
Pope,  A.  A.,  114. 
Population,  153. 
Porter,  Noah,  175. 
Portland  fire,  24-9. 
Post,  Evening,  145,  191. 
Pratt,  Elisha  B.,  46. 

Francis  A.,  66,  93,  109-10. 

Rufus  N.,  131-2-4. 

Waldo  S.,  188. 
Pratt  &  Cady  Co.,  13 1-2  foil. 
Pratt,  Oakley  &  Co.,  98. 
Pratt  &  Whitney  Co.,  91,  109  foil.,  120-32. 
Pratt,  Woodford  &  Co.,  9S. 
Prentice,  C.  H.,  123. 
Press  of  Hartford,  190. 
Preston,  E.  V.,  65. 

S.  C,  40-1. 
Protection  Insurance  Co.,  29. 
Putnam,  Israel,  161-9. 
Pynchon,  Thomas,  1S4. 

Railway  Passenger  Ins.  Co.  of  Eng.,  60. 

of  Hartford,  64. 
Reed,  E.  M.,  66. 
L.  F.,  181. 
Rees,  H.  E.,  30. 
Remington,  E.  &  Sons,  116. 
Retreat  for  the  Insane,  161-94  foil. 


INDEX. 


219 


Richards,  C.  B.,  66,  91. 

E.  G.,  40. 
Richardson,  A.  D.,  99. 
Ricker,  A.  T.,  149. 
Ripley,  Edwin  G.,  30. 
Robbins,  Thomas,  16S. 
Robbins  &  Lawrence,  S3. 
Roberts,  E.  C,  67. 

E.  M.,  79,  151. 
Henry,  124-5. 
Robinson,  D.  F.  &  Co.,  81,  98. 
Rockwell,  F.  C,  148. 
Rogers,  Asa  H.,   105. 

William,  93,  105. 

Wm.  A.,  Prof.,  in. 
Rogers  Brothers,  101-5. 
Rogers'  Cutlery  Co.,  105. 
Rogers,  Smith  &  Co.,  105. 
Rogers,  Wm.,  Mfg.  Co.,  93-105. 
Root,  Elisha  K.,  66,  90-1. 

G.  Wells,  136. 
Roper  Sporting  Anns,  117. 
Royce,  P.  C,  26. 
Royse,  Lydia  B.,  1S0. 
Russell,  Guidon  W.,  55,  196,  201. 

Thomas  W.,  58. 

Sanborn  Maps,  30. 
Sargeant,  Jacob,  79. 
Savage,  Willis  M.,  141. 
Scanlan,  M.  F.,  191. 
Schools,  172  foil. 
Schroeder,  F.,  150. 
Scoville,  A.  W.,149. 
Scranton,  S.  S.,  &  Co.,  147. 
Sewerage,  152. 
Seymour,  John  W.,  52. 

Thomas  H.,  43. 
Seyms,  Robert  N.,  143. 
Sharps,  C,  83. 

Sharps  Rifle  Mfg.  Co.,  83,  114. 
Shepard,  Chas.,  42-3. 
Shepherd,  Geo.  R.,  52 
Shultas,  James  B.,  43. 
Sigourney,  Lydia  H.,  1S0. 
Sigourney  Tool  Co.,  135. 
Skilton,  D.  W.  C,  34. 
Sleeper,  Wm.  W.,  188. 
Slyter,  E.  L.,  205. 
Smith,  A.  T.,  60. 

E.  E.,  60. 

Geo.  Williamson,  185. 


Smith,  Normand,  99,  100. 

Roswell  C,  64. 

Thomas,  99. 

Virginia  T.,  204. 

Wm.  T.,  87. 
Smith,  Bourn  &  Co.,  99  foil. 
Smith,  Shelden  &  Bigelow,  100. 
Smith  Medicated  Prune  Co.,  150. 
Smith,  Winchester  &  Co.,  82. 
Smyth  Mfg.  Co.,  146. 
Soby,  Charles,  150. 
Spencer,  C.  M.,  122. 
Sperry,  Henry  T.,  191. 

Stiles  D.,  124. 
St.  John,  H.  W.,  55 
St.  Louis  fire  of  1S49,  24-S-9. 
Stannard,  Monroe,  109. 
Star  Printing  Co.,  149. 
State  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  44 
Steane,  I.  J.  &  Co.,  146. 
Stearns,  C.  C,  1S1. 

Henry  P.,  196. 
Steele,  G.  W.,  1S1. 
Stocker,  E.  H.,  11S. 
Stockwell,  J.  C,  178. 
Stone,  Samuel,  15. 
Storrs,  M.,  58. 
Stowell,  T.  P.,  30. 
Streets,  152. 
Street  railways,  152. 
Strickland  &  Shea,  149. 
Sturtevant,  F.  C,  151. 
Sugden.  Wm.  E.,  43. 
Sumner,  H.  F.  &  Co.,  82,  98. 

Taft  Company,  148. 
Taintor,  James  U.,  41. 
Talcott,  Seth,  140. 

Wm.  H.  &  Brother,  149. 
Taylor,  C.  F.,  139. 

Frederick  D.,  136. 

John  M.,  52. 

Zachary,  88. 
Taxes,  154. 
Terry,  Eliphalet,  24-5. 

Nathaniel,  22. 
Teweles,  Alfred,  151. 

Thorne  Type  Setting  and  Distributing  Ma- 
chine, 144  foil. 
Thrall,  Willis,  98. 
Tiffany,  E.  D.,  95-7. 
Times,  Hartford,  190. 


220 


INDEX 


Topping,  J.  R.,  151. 

Toucey,  Isaac,  65,  185. 

Trade,  80,  156. 

Transportation  Company,  -19-20. 

Travelers  Insurance  Company,  60  foil. 

Record,  65. 
Tribune,  Chicago,  33. 
Trinity  College,  93,  168,  182  foil. 
Tryon,  J.  S.,  146. 
Trumbull,  Col.  John,  169. 
Turnbull,  Thomas,  26. 
Tuttle,  Miles  A.,  185. 
Twitchell,  Willis  I.,  178. 
Tyndall,  Prof.,  66. 

Union  for  Home  Work,  204. 

Union  Manufacturing  Company,  79. 

United  Workers,  205. 

Universal  Life  Insurance  Company,  58. 

Vicksburg  fire,  24-9. 

Vienna  Exposition  of  1S73,  106. 

Wadsworth,  Daniel,  166. 
Joseph,  171. 
Tertius,  56. 
Waltham  Watch  Company,  So. 
War,  Franco-German,  no. 

Mexican,  88,  91. 

Pequot,  15. 

Seminole,  88. 
Warburton,  John,  79. 

W.  A.,  30. 
Ward,  James,  43. 

Ward,  Bartholomew  &  Brainard,  77. 
Warner,  Charles  Dudley,  190. 
Washburn  Car  Wheel  Company,  140. 
Washington,  George,  76. 
Washington  Fire  and  Marine  Ins.  Co.,  40. 
Water  supply,  157. 
Water  transportation,  19. 
Waters,  A.  D.,  95. 
Watkinson,  David,  168. 
Watrous,  George  W.,  106. 
Wm.  H.,  105-6. 
Way,  Charles  L.,  126. 


Way,  Samuel  L.,  126. 

Wealth,  153. 

Webster,  Charles  T.,  40-1. 

J.  C,  55. 

Noah,  80,  96-8. 
Weed  Sewing  Machine  Company,  91,   112 

foil.,  17-22. 
Weed,  T.  E.,  112. 
Weeks,  E.  O.,  30. 
Wegman's  patent,  124. 
Welch,  Geo.  M.,  112. 
Wells,  D.  H.,  52. 

Horace,  161. 
J-  H.,  95. 
West,  Amos,  91. 
Whiting,  Charles  B.,  41. 
Whitmore,  H.  A  ,  60. 
Whitney,  Amos  W.,  66,  109. 
Whittemore,  Wm.  L.  &  Son,  148. 
Wiley,  Waterman  &  Eaton,  149. 
Wiley,  Wm.  H.  &  Son,  143. 
Willey,  Allen,  191. 
Williams,  Abram,  38. 

A.  W.  C,  144. 

E.  H.,  150. 

Job,  194. 

Thomas  S.,  56. 
Williams  &  Carleton,  148. 
Willimantic  Linen  Company,  109. 
Winthrop,  John,  13. 

John,  Jr.,  171. 
Winslow,  Edward,  13. 
Wolcott,  Oliver,  64. 
S.  T.,  124. 
Women's  Christian  Association,  204. 
Woodruff,  Samuel,  83. 
Woodruff  &  Beach,  83. 
Woodruff  &  Beach  Iron  Works,  83. 
Woodward,  P.  H.,  4. 
Woodward  &  Rogers,  151. 
Woolen  mill,  first  in  America,  76. 
Worthington,  A.  D.,  147. 
Wybell,  Joseph  C,  146. 

Yale  University,  91. 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  205. 


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